THIS  EDITION  IS  LIMITED  TO 

1,200  COPIES 
OF  WHICH  THIS  IS 


~7'7 


ARISTOCRATS  OF 
THE  GARDEN 


BY 

ERNEST  H.  WILSON,  M.A.,  V.M.H, 

AUTHOR  OF  "A  NATURALIST  IN  WESTERN  CHINA" 


ILLUSTRATED 


GARDEN  CITY  NEW  YORK 

DOUBLEDAY,  PAGE  &  COMPANY 

1917 


Copyright,  1916,  1917,  by 
DOUBLEDAY,    PAGE   &   COMPANY 

AU  rights  reserved,  including  that  of 

translation  into  foreign  languages, 

including  the  Scandinavian 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.    The  Story  of  the  Modern  Rose.      .      .  3 

II.     "Consider  the  Lilies" 19 

III.  Midseason  Flowering  Trees  and  Shrubs  36 

IV.  The  Best  of  the  Hardy  Climbing  Shrubs  55 
V.     Ornamental  Fruited  Trees  and  Shrubs  78 

VI.    The  Glory  of  the  Autumn     ....  101 

VII.    The  Best  Hardy  Conifers     ....  113 

VIII.     Broad-Leaved  Evergreens  for  Northern 

Gardens 138 

IX.    New  Chinese  Trees  and  Shrubs  for  the 
Pacific    Slope    and    Other    Favored 

Regions 153 

X.    Early     Spring-Flowering     Trees     and 

Shrubs 175 

XI.    Japanese   Cherries  and  Asiatic   Crab- 
apples     195 

XII.    In  "Lilacdom"     .     .     .     .     ...  213 

XIII.  New  Herbaceous  Plants  from  China    .  230 

XIV.  "Hardy"  Rhododendrons    ....  244 
XV.    The  Story  of  the  Davidia       ....  275 

Epilogue 296 

Index  .  301 


389605 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

The  American  Laurel  (Kalmia  latifolia)  is  one  of  the  most 
meritorious  of  all  flowering  shrubs  ....  Frontispiece 

FACING  PAGE 

The  Sargent  Rose,  shell  pink,  raised  at  the  Arnold  Arboretum 
by  Jackson  Dawson 3 

Lilium  Sargentiae  has  pure  white  flowers 19 

Among  the  later  flowering  trees  the  native  American  Gordonia 
altamaha  is  one  of  great  interest 36 

Clematis  montana,  var.  rubens  is  an  attractive  vine  with 
rose  colored  flowers 55 

The  Snowberry  (Symphoricarpos  racemosus)  is  deservedly 
popular 78 

The  barks  of  many  trees  have  highly  decorative  values     .     .      i  o  i 

As  a  lawn  tree  and  for  ornamental  planting  generally  the  con- 
color  Fir  is  the  most  beautiful  of  conifers  113 

The  flowers  of  Yucca  flaccida  make  this  a  valuable  evergreen 
for  most  gardens 138 

As  a  practical  substitute  for  Ivy  the  broad-leaved,  climbing 
Evonymus  (E.  radicans,  var.  vegetus)  is  an  excellent  ever- 
green vine 138 

The  Chinese  Pistach  Tree  thrives  in  dry  regions     .     .     .     .     153 

The  Magnolias  are  among  the  most  notable  spring  flowering 
trees  and  shrubs 175 

Why  are  Crabapples  so  little  grown?  They  are  hardy,  most 
floriferous,  and  grow  on  almost  any  soil 195 

The  common  Lilac  is  known  in  a  great  number  of  varieties     .     213 

Senecio  clivorum  has  Aster-like  flowers  three  to  five  inches  in 
diameter 230 

Primula  pulverulenta  has  flower  scapes  fully  a  yard  tall    .     .     230 

Rhododendron  caucasicum  is  hardy  and  produces  in  profu- 
sion its  flowers  of  rose-red,  white  within 244 

Davidia  involucrata,  appropriately  called  the  Dove  Tree,  is 
indeed  remarkable 275 

vii 


ARISTOCRATS  OF  THE  GARDEN 


The  Sargent  Rose,  shell  pink  semi-double  flowers,  raised  at  the 

Arnold  Arboretum  by  Jackson  Dawson,  combines  the  qualities 

of  Crimson  Rambler  and  Baroness  Rothschild  H.  P. 


ARISTOCRATS  OF  THE  GARDEN 

CHAPTER  I 
THE  STORY  OF  THE  MODERN  ROSE 

THIS  UNIVERSAL  FAVORITE  COMING  OUT  OF  THE  EAST 

IS    THE    PRODUCT    OF    BUT    A    FEW    SPECIES — LATENT 

POSSIBILITIES  YET  BEFORE  THE  ROSE  LOVER 

THE  establishing  of  a  trading  factory  at  Canton, 
in  southern  China,  by  the  English  East  India 
Company  toward  the  close  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  would  appear  to  have  very  little — if,  indeed, 
anything — to  do  with  the  development  of  modern 
horticulture  in  general  and  the  Rose  in  particular. 
But  as  a  matter  of  fact  it  has  had  a  great  deal  to  do 
with  both,  and  garden  lovers  generally  (though  they 
may  not  know  it)  owe  a  big  debt  to  the  directors  and 
officers  of  that  grand  old  Company.  The  Company 
met  with  great  opposition  from  the  Chinese  and 
others  and  it  was  a  century  before  it  fully  established 
itself  in  China.  Nevertheless,  in  the  earliest  days 
of  its  career  there,  an  officer  of  the  Company  sent  to 
England  some  dried  plants,  among  them  two  Roses, 


4  ARISTOCRATS  .OF  THE   GARDEN 

known*  liowatlays'  botanifcally  as  Rosa  multiflora  var. 
cathayensis  and  R.  laevigata,  and  these  were  mentioned 
by  Plukenet  in  his  Almagestum  in  1696.  Toward  the 
end  of  the  eighteenth  century,  despite  the  Napoleonic 
wars  and  the  fact  that  each  vessel  was  armed  and  often 
had  to  do  battle  against  foes,  the  captains  of  the  East- 
Indiamen,  as  the  Company's  ships  were  called,  used 
to  carry  home  plants  which  they,  or  the  factory 
officials  at  Canton,  found  growing  in  the  gardens  of 
the  Chinese. 

These  plants  found  their  way  into  the  gardens  of 
the  Company's  directors  and  their  friends  and  from 
hence  into  the  Royal  Gardens,  Kew,  and  elsewhere. 
To  these  agencies  we  owe  our  earliest  varieties  of 
Chrysanthemums,  Camellias,  Moutan  Peonies,  China 
Primrose,  China  Azaleas,  and,  what  here  concerns 
us  chiefly,  the  first  plants  of  the  China  Monthly,  Tea, 
and  Rambler  Roses — parents  of  the  modern  Rose. 

Early  in  the  eighteenth  century  India  received 
through  the  same  source  many  plants  including  these 
and  other  Roses.  It  is  important  to  remember  this 
since  one  of  these,  the  China  Monthly  Rose  (Rosa 
chinensis),  was  afterward  erroneously  considered  to 
be  native  of  India  and  became  generally  known  as 
the  Bengal  Rose.  This  Rose  and  its  var.  semper- 
florens  were  introduced  by  the  French  into  the  Isle  of 


THE   STORY   OF  THE   MODERN   ROSE  5 

Bourbon,  doubtless  from  India,  during  the  eighteenth 
century. 

The  Bengal  Rose  was  known  to  Gronovius  in  1704, 
and  came  into  cultivation  in  Haarlem  in  1781,  having 
probably  been  introduced  by  Dutch  East-Indiamen. 
But,  preoccupied  with  their  Tulips  and  other  bulbous 
plants  the  Dutch  have  done  little  toward  developing 
the  modern  Rose.  In  1789,  Sir  Joseph  Banks  intro- 
duced it  into  England  and,  chronologically,  our  story 
here  begins. 

In  1789,  the  Crimson  China  Monthly  (Rosa  chin- 
ensis,  var.  semperflorens) ,  through  the  captain  of  an  Eng- 
lish East-Indiaman,  came  into  the  possession  of  Gilbert 
Slater,  Esq.  In  1804,  Thomas  Evans  sent  from  China 
to  England  through  the  same  agency  the  first  Rambler 
Rose  (Rosa  multiflora,  var.  earned).  In  1809,  Sir 
Abraham  Hume  received  from  China  through  a 
similar  agency  the  first  Tea-scented  Rose,  which 
had  double  pink  flowers  and  was  christened  Rosa 
odorata.  And,  to  complete  the  independent  activities 
of  the  English  East  India  Company,  between  1815 
and  1817  Charles  Francis  Greville,  Esq.,  received 
from  China  a  Rambler  Rose  (Rosa  multiflora,  var. 
platyphylld)  which  enjoyed  lasting  popularity  under  the 
name  of  Seven  Sisters  and  by  which  name  it  will 
be  remembered  by  many  readers  of  these  pages. 


6  ARISTOCRATS   OF   THE   GARDEN 

Meanwhile,  in  1792,  Lord  Macartney  brought  back 
with  him  from  China  a  Rose  (R.  bracteatd)  which  was 
styled  the  Macartney  Rose  and  which  is  now  natural- 
ized in  some  of  our  warmer  states. 

Another  Chinese  Rose — the  Cherokee  Rose — the 
date  of  whose  introduction  into  this  country  is  un- 
known, is  also  naturalized  widely  in  the  warmer  states 
and  received  its  earliest  name  (R.  laevigata)  in  1803, 
from  Michaux  who  firmly  believed  it  to  be  native  of 
this  country. 

In  1796,  Rosa  rugosa,  native  of  Japan,  Korea,  and 
extreme  northeastern  Asia,  was  introduced  into  Eng- 
land by  Messrs.  Lee  and  Kennedy. 

These  new  and  amazing  plants  from  China  quickly 
attracted  the  attention  of  patrons  of  horticulture  in 
England  and  men  were  despatched  to  China  ex- 
pressly to  send  home  all  the  novelties  they  could  find; 
and,  intermittently,  from  the  commencement  of  the 
nineteenth  century  down  to  the  present  day,  ardent 
collectors  have  been  busily  employed,  but  this  won- 
derfully rich  country  is  not  yet  exhausted  of  its  floral 
treasures!  One  of  the  first  of  these  collectors — Wil- 
liam Kerr — sent  home  in  1807  the  double  white- 
flowered  Banksian  Rose  (Rosa  Banksiae).  In  1824, 
John  Damper  Parks  sent  home  the  double  yellow- 
flowered  Banksian  Rose  (R.  Banksiae,  var.  luted)  and 


THE   STORY   OF  THE  MODERN   ROSE  7 

a  semi-double  yellowish  Tea  Rose  (R.  odorata,  var. 
ochroleuca).  In  1825,  the  Small-leaved  Rose  (R.  Rox- 
burghii,  better  known  as  R.  microphylld)  with  double 
reddish  flowers  blossomed  for  the  first  time  in  Messrs. 
Colville's  Nursery  in  London. 

We  have  already  mentioned  that  China  Roses 
were  introduced  into  India  in  the  eighteenth  century 
and  that  some  of  them  toward  the  end  of  that  century 
were  introduced  into  the  French  Isle  of  Bourbon,  south 
of  the  equator,  where  we  learn  they  thrived  amazingly 
and  produced  new  forms. 

From  Mauritius  in  1810,  Sweet  introduced  into 
England  the  Fairy  Rose  (R.  chinensis,  var.  minima) ; 
this  I  consider  to  be  merely  a  variant  of  var.  semper- 
florens,  the  Crimson  Monthly  Rose.  About  1819, 
from  the  Isle  of  Bourbon,  the  Rose  Edward  reached 
France,  and,  crossed  with  the  French  Rose  (R.  g allied), 
gave  rise  to  the  Hybrid  Bourbon  Roses.  This  Rose 
Edward  is  of  much  interest;  long  ago  it  was  cultivated 
in  Calcutta  and  it  is  obviously  a  Hybrid  China. 
The  specimen  I  have  seen  strongly  suggests  R.  chinen- 
sis X  R.  centifolia  as  its  parentage. 

The  China  Monthly  Rose  (R.  chinensis)  crossed 
with  the  French  Rose  (R.  gallicd)  gave  rise  to  the 
Hybrid  China  Roses.  The  Hybrid  China  and  the 
Hybrid  Bourbon  crossed  with  the  Damask  Rose  (R. 


8  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

damasctnd)  gave  rise  to  the  Hybrid  Perpetual  or 
Remontant  Roses.  The  Hybrid  Perpetual  crossed 
with  the  Tea  Rose  (R.  odoratd)  gave  rise  to  the  Hybrid 
Tea  Roses  which  to-day  are  the  dominant  class  of  Roses. 
Lastly,  Rosa  chinensis  crossed  with  the  Musk  Rose 
(R.  moschatd)  gave  rise  to  the  Noisette  Roses,  a 
beautiful  class  which,  unfortunately,  has  gone  out 
of  favor. 

But  to  return  to  the  collectors:  In  1846,  Robert 
Fortune  sent  from  China  to  England  the  yellow-buff 
Fortune  Rose  (R.  odorata,  var.  pseudoindica),  a  Tea- 
scented  Rose  rather  similar  to  the  var.  ochroleuca  and 
widely  known  under  the  name  "Beauty  of  Glazen- 
wood."  In  1850,  he  sent  home  from  China  a  Rose 
with  relatively  large  double  white  flowers  supposed 

to  be  a  cross  between  the  Banksian  and  Cherokee 

% 

Roses  and  which  was  named  Rosa  Fortuneana.  In 
1886,  the  Wichuraiana  Rose  (R.  Luciae)  was  intro- 
duced into  Brussels  from  Japan.  In  1878,  Prof.  R. 
Smith  sent  from  Japan  to  a  Mr.  Jenner  in  England  a 
Rose  which  the  recipient  named  The  Engineer  in 
compliment  to  the  profession  of  its  donor.  In  course 
of  time  this  Rose  came  into  possession  of  a  nursery- 
man named  Gilbert  who  exhibited  some  cut  flowers 
of  it  under  the  above  name  in  1890,  and  received  an 
Award  of  Merit  from  the  Royal  Horticultural  Soci- 


THE   STORY   OF   THE   MODERN   ROSE  9 

ety.  Soon  afterward  Messrs.  Chas.  Turner,  of  Slough, 
purchased  the  stock  and  changed  the  name  to 
Crimson  Rambler.  This  Rose  is  generally  as- 
sumed to  be  a  hybrid  between  Rosa  multiflora  and 
some  China  Monthly  Rose,  but  to  me  this  view 
is  untenable.  I  do  not  think  it  has  any  China 
Monthly  blood  in  it  at  all.  It  has  long  been  cul- 
tivated in  China  and  I  consider  that,  like  the  Seven 
Sisters  Rose,  it  is  a  sport  from  the  common,  wild 
pink-flowered  China  Rambler  (R.  multiflora,  var. 
cathayensis).  These  various  Chinese  Roses  were 
introduced  from  Chinese  gardens  where  they  have 
been  cultivated  from  time  immemorial  and  their 
wild  prototypes  were  not  discovered,  much  less  intro- 
duced, until  comparatively  recently. 

The  true  Rambler  Rose  (R.  multiflora)  is  a  native 
of  Japan  and  has  single  white  flowers  in  large  panicles. 
This  was  sent  to  Lyons,  France,  from  Japan  in  1862, 
by  Monsieur  Coignet,  an  engineer.  The  pink-flowered 
Chinese  variety  has  only  just  been  dignified  by  a 
distinctive  name.  In  1888,  General  Collett  dis- 
covered, in  the  Shan  Hills  of  Upper  Burmah,  a  Rose 
with  white,  pale  yellow,  or  buff  flowers  six  inches 
across  and  this  was  named  Rosa  gigantea.  He  intro- 
duced it  into  Europe  and  it  thrives  wonderfully  on  the 
Riviera  but  in  England  it  flowers  sparingly.  This 


10  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

Rose  is  common  in  Yunnan,  southwest  China,  and 
has  given  rise  to  a  race  of  double-flowered  Roses 
which  are  cultivated  for  ornament  by  the  Chinese 
in  that  region.  This  Giant  Rose  is  very  fragrant  and 
I  believe  it  to  be  the  prototype  and  parent  of  the  Tea- 
scented  Roses  so  long  cultivated  by  the  Chinese.  The 
prototype  of  the  China  Monthly  Rose  (Rosa  chin- 
ensis,  var.  spontanea)  was  first  found  growing  wild 
in  1885,  by  A.  Henry,  in  the  province  of  Hupeh,  central 
China,  and  in  this  same  region  the  wild  form  of  the 
Banksian  Rose  with  single  white  flowers  is  extraor- 
dinarily abundant;  so  also  is  the  Cherokee  Rose; 
and  further  west,  in  Szechuan,  the  prototype  of  the 
Small-leaved  Rose  (R.  Roxburghii)  is  one  of  the  most 
common  wayside  shrubs. 

The  genus  Rosa  is  confined  to  the  Northern  Hemi- 
sphere and  its  members  are  found  scattered  over  the 
cool  and  warm  temperate  and  the  sub-tropic  regions 
of  Asia,  Europe,  and  North  America.  Some  of  them 
are  found  in  northern  Africa  but  no  species  is  endemic 
there.  It  is  an  exceedingly  difficult  genus  to  classify 
and  botanists  differ  greatly  in  the  estimate  of  the 
number  of  species.  One  botanist  asserts  that  all  may 
be  included  under  three  species;  in  the  Index 
Kewensis  more  than  five  hundred  species  are  enum- 
erated. In  the  Arnold  Arboretum  Herbarium  twenty- 


THE   STORY   OF   THE   MODERN    ROSE  11 

six  species  are  recognized  as  indigenous  in  North 
America;  and  of  these  virtually  only  one  (R.  seti- 
gerd)9  the  Prairie  Rose,  has  been  utilized  by  the 
hybridist  to  date,  and  this  but  sparingly.  However, 
it  is  well  to  mention  that  a  double-flowered  form  of 
Rosa  virginiana,  the  Rose  d' Amour,  has  been  known 
since  1768,  and  quite  recently  Rosa  humilis  has  been 
crossed  with  Rosa  rugosa. 

Except  in  gardens  devoted  to  forming  collections 
of  plants,  species  of  Rose,  with  a  few  exceptions,  are 
rarely  cultivated  and  it  is  trite  to  say  that  Roses  as 
ordinarily  understood  are  "made,"  not  discovered 
wild.  In  other  words,  they  are  the  product  of  the 
gardeners'  skill.  I  would  I  could  take  the  readers 
of  this  work  to  the  mountain  fastnesses  of  central  and 
western  China,  and  to  certain  remote  parts  of  Japan 
and  there  introduce  him  to  the  wild  types — the  raw 
material — from  which  have  been  evolved  our  "Kil- 
larneys,"  "American  Beauty,"  "Mrs.  Chas.  Russell," 
"Lady  Hillingdon,"  "Caroline  Testout,"  "Mrs. 
George  Shawyer";  our  "Rambler"  and  "Wichur- 
aiana"  hybrids  and  innumerable  others,  and  his 
or  her  astonishment  would  be  profound.  Truly  it 
hardly  seems  credible  that  the  Roses  of  to-day  had 
such  lowly  origins. 

The  French   Rose    (R.   g allied),    Provence   Rose 


12  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

(R.  provincialis),  and  Cabbage  Rose  (R.  centifolid)  are 
said  to  be  the  only  Roses  known  to  Pliny,  and  it  must 
be  confessed  that  the  distinctions  between  these  so- 
called  species  are  not  obvious.  From  earliest  times 
in  the  Occident,  down  to  the  end  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  the  Roses  so  much  extolled  by  ancient  writers 
and  by  our  ancestors  were  either  wild  species  native 
of  Persia,  Asia  Minor,  and  Europe,  or  garden  forms 
derived  therefrom.  These  would  include,  in  addi- 
tion to  those  aforementioned,  the  White  Rose  (R. 
alba),  the  Musk  Rose  (R.  moschata),  the  Damask 
Rose  (R.  damascend),  the  Cinnamon  Rose  (R.  cin- 
namomed),  the  Moss  Rose  (R.  centifolia,  var.  muscosa), 
Sweet  Briar  (R.  eglanterid),  Sulphur  Rose  (R.  hemis- 
phaericd),  Austrian  Briar  (R.  foetidd),  and  the  Aus- 
trian Copper  (R.  foetida,  var.  bicolor). 

About  the  end  of  the  eighteenth  century  the 
Ayrshire  Roses  were  originated  from  R.  arvensis,  and 
early  in  the  nineteenth  century  the  Boursault  Roses 
were  developed,  through  crossing  the  Alpine  Rose 
(R.  pendulind)  with  'R.  chinensis,  and  the  Scotch 
Briars  from  R.  spinosissima.  Virtually  all  have  dis- 
appeared from  general  cultivation  in  the  gardens  of 
Europe  and  North  America.  And  all  the  species  of 
Rose  indigenous  in  North  America,  Europe,  and  Asia 
Minor  have  fallen  into  disfavor  and  are  no  longer  used 


THE   STORY   OF  THE   MODERN    ROSE  13 

by  the  Rose  hybridist  with  the  exception  of  those 
which  have  yellow  flowers. 

In  Bulgaria  and  other  parts  of  the  Balkan  Penin- 
sula, and  on  a  small  scale  in  parts  of  India,  the  French, 
Cabbage,  and  Damask  Roses  are  extensively  culti- 
vated for  the  preparation  of  Attar  of  Roses.  But  as 
garden  Roses  the  old  have  given  place  to  the  new, 
and  the  gardens  of  to-day  are  resplendent  with  the 
products  of  the  China,  Tea,  Rambler,  and  Wichurai- 
ana  Roses,  natives  of  China  and  Japan. 

New  garden  Roses  are  originated  by  the  hybridiz- 
ing of  different  species,  varieties,  and  forms,  and  as 
sports  from  existing  forms  as  in  the  case  of  "White 
Killarney"  and  many  others.  They  are  raised  by 
means  of  seeds,  cuttings,  layering,  budding,  and 
grafting,  but  it  is  no  part  of  my  purpose  to  enter  into 
these  details.  The  object  here  is  to  tell  of  what  has 
been,  to  show  the  source  of  what  is,  and  to  hint  of 
what  may  yet  be  evolved. 

Of  the  vast  array  of  Rose  species  not  more  than 
two  dozen  have  in  the  past  history  of  the  Rose  been 
employed  in  the  breeding  of  garden  Roses.  Thus, 
leaving  completely  aside  the  innate  tendency  to 
variation  on  the  part  of  Roses  of  to-day,  it  is  obvious 
that  Rose  breeders  and  specialists  have  still  a  wide 
untrodden  field  in  which  to  experiment.  It  cannot 


14  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

be  expected  that  every  species  will  be  found  useful  in 
the  advancement  of  the  Rose,  yet  at  the  same  time 
only  experiment,  long  continued,  can  decide  which  are 
useful  or  useless.  Be  it  remembered  that  our  pres- 
ent-day Roses  owe  their  principal  origin  to  forms 
cultivated,  we  know  not  how  long,  by  the  flower- 
loving  Chinese.  The  prototypes  of  the  China  and 
Tea  Roses  have  single  flowers,  and  blossom  but  once 
a  year.  When  these  forms  gave  rise  to  "monthly 
blooming"  Roses,  or  how  the  latter  originated  is  un- 
known. Possibly,  it  was  some  erratic  sport  or  maybe 
it  was  due  to  a  radical  change  in  environment  caused 
by  the  removal  of  the  parent  plants  to  a  region  where 
the  seasons  were  less  fixed  or  winter  unknown.  How- 
ever, be  this  as  it  may,  a  Rose  with  a  decided  ten- 
dency toward  perpetual  blooming  was  the  most 
marked  advance  in  the  genus,  from  a  garden  view- 
point, that  had  occurred  up  to  that  time.  How  mod- 
ern hybridists  have  taken  advantage  of  this  variation 
needs  no  comment. 

All  Rose  breeders  have  their  ideals,  but  in  striving 
after  size,  form,  color,  freedom  of  blossom  and  of 
habit,  after  good  foliage,  hardiness,  constitution, 
keeping  qualities  of  the  flowers  and  the  like,  fragrance 
should  not  be  lost  sight  of.  We  want  Roses  good  in 
all  points.  We  want  fragrant  Roses  in  increasing 


THE   STORY   OF   THE   MODERN   ROSE  15 

quantities.  We  want  a  Rambler  Rose  with  pure- 
white  flowers  as  large  and  as  freely  produced  as  in  the 
Crimson  Rambler.  Also  we  want  yellow  Ramblers, 
yellow  Hybrid  Perpetuals,  more  yellow  Hybrid  Teas 
and  Tea  Roses. 

Where  can  we  look  for  these  yellow  Roses?  Now, 
of  wild  Roses  with  clear  yellow  flowers  there  are  only 
known  six  species:  the  Simple-leaved  Rose  (R. 
persica),  Austrian  Briar  (R.  foetidd),  Sulphur  Rose 
(R.  hemisphaerica),  Mrs.  Aitchison's  Rose  (R.  Ecae) 
— all  natives  of  Asia  Minor  and  Persia  to  central 
Asia  (Austrian  Briar  is  also  found  in  the  Crimea) — 
Father  Hugh's  Rose  (R.  Hugonis),  and  Lindley's  Rose 
(R.  xanthina)  natives  of  northern  China.  The  latter, 
though  named  in  1820  from  a  Chinese  drawing  and 
long  cultivated  in  Peking  where  double  and  single- 
flowered  forms  occur,  was  only  introduced  to  cultiva- 
tion in  April,  1908,  by  F.  N.  Meyer  of  the  U.  S. 
Department  of  Agriculture.  Father  Hugh's  Rose  was 
raised  at  Kew  in  1899.  The  others  have  been 
known  for  a  long  period  and  some  have  been  and  still 
are  being  used  by  Rose  breeders.  The  Double  Sul- 
phur or  Yellow  Provence  Rose  has  been  known  since 
the  seventeenth  century.  The  Yellow  Persian  was 
brought  from  Persia  in  1838,  by  Sir  Henry  Wil- 
lock,  and  is  presumably  a  form  of  R.  foetida.  The 


16  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

Harison  Rose  is  either  a  form  of  this  or  more  prob- 
ably a  hybrid  between  it  and  R.  spinosissima.  All 
these  Roses  will  doubtless  play  an  important  part 
in  the  future,  but,  personally,  I  am  of  the  opinion 
that  the  yellow  and  buff-colored  forms  of  Rosa  odorata, 
var.  gigantea  are  the  Roses  that  will  be  found  of  greatest 
value  in  the  evolution  of  the  yellow  Roses  of  the 
future.  The  rampant  growth  and  sparseness  of  blos- 
som may  be  urged  against  them,  but  who  can  say  how 
much  these  characters  may  be  modified  under  culti- 
vation and  by  the  hybridist?  Forms  of  the  Scotch 
Rose  (R.  spinosissima)  have  nearly  yellow  flowers, 
but  the  only  other  really  yellow  Roses  known  are 
R.  Banksiaey  var.  lutea  and  the  single-flowered  R. 
Banksiae,  var.  lutescens,  neither  yet  known  in  a  wild 
state. 

Wild  Roses  are  pretty  and  charming  plants,  yet  it 
cannot  be  claimed  that  their  beauty  transcends  that  of 
other  groups  of  wild  flowers.  Nevertheless,  the  Rose 
holds  a  unique  place  in  the  thought  and  estimation  of 
civilized  man.  In  poetry  and  prose  its  beauty  has 
been  extolled  far  and  wide  in  many  tongues.  The  old 
Persian  poet,  Omar  Khayyam,  in  the  eleventh  cen- 
tury, sang  its  praises  and  a  Damask  Rose  now  grows 
on  his  grave  and  also  on  that  of  his  first  English 
translator,  Edward  Fitzgerald. 


THE   STORY   OF  THE  MODERN   ROSE  17 

The  Rose  is  the  one  flower  whose  name  is  common 
to  the  polyglot  people  of  this  land.  In  English, 
French,  German,  Danish,  and  Norwegian  its  name  is 
Rose;  in  Italian,  Spanish,  Portuguese,  Russian,  and 
Latin  it  is  Rosa;  in  Swedish  it  is  Ros,  in  Dutch  Roos, 
in  Bohemian  Ruze,  in  Hungarian  Rozsa  and  in  Greek 
Rhodon.  Is  not  this  both  remarkable  and  significant? 
It  is  the  national  flower  of  one  great  race,  but  it  is 
loved  by  all  and  is  the  monopoly  of  no  one  race  nor 
creed.  In  one  internecine  war  it  was  used  as  an 
emblem  by  opposing  factions.  In  this  country's 
Civil  War  the  Cherokee  Rose  was  often  planted  as  a 
memorial  on  the  graves  of  fallen  heroes  by  their 
surviving  comrades.  And  to-day,  the  sight  of  the 
white  flowers  of  this  Rose  wells  up  from  the  heart 
of  many  a  veteran  scenes  of  carnage  and  strife  and 
brings  back  memories  of  comrades  laid  to  rest  be- 
neath its  shade. 

In  this  and  other  lands  the  Rose  has  societies  de- 
voted to  encouraging  its  advancement,  and  rightly 
so.  But  in  some  ways  the  Rose  of  al  flowers  least 
needs  the  help  of  special  societies.  It  is  the  one 
flower  which  for  some  inscrutable  reason  has  never 
lost  its  popularity  and  by  this  same  token  never  will. 

The  story  of  the  Modern  Rose  is  a  story  of  progress 
and  as  such  holds  a  peculiar  fascination  over  all. 


18  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

The  Near  East  gave  the  first  fruits  to  the  West;  the 
Far  East  in  due  course  added  its  bounty.  Europe 
began  the  improvement,  and  soon  this  country  took 
up  a  share.  The  peoples  of  Asia,  Europe,  and  North 
America  have  evolved  the  Modern  Rose.  With  the 
rapid  advance  in  the  science  of  hybridizing  and  the 
introduction  of  species  and  forms  from  far  and  near 
new  races  will  be  evolved  and  new  eras  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  Rose  will  arise.  The  story  here  briefly 
sketched  is  but  the  prelude  to  the  full  story  of  the 
Rose  which  the  future  will  gradually  unfold. 


Lilium  Sargentiae  has  pure  white  flowers  and  is  quite  hardy  in 
Northern  gardens 


CHAPTER  II 
"CONSIDER  THE  LILIES" 

COMMON  ERRORS  OF  BELIEF  IN  THE  REQUIREMENTS  OF 

THESE  SUPERB  FLOWERS — A  DOZEN  SPECIES  THAT  ARE 

REALLY  HARDY 

IN  A  recipe  for  jugged  hare  some  one  once  made 
the  sage  remark  "First  catch  your  hare!"    This 
aphorism   is   sound,   and   apropos  of  growing 
Lilies  it  may  be  altered  to  "First  secure  healthy  bulbs." 
In  the  matter  of  the  hare  every  epicure  cannot  go 
forth  with  dog  and  gun  and  hunt  his  game;  neither 
can  every  lover  of  the  Lily  journey  forth  to  distant 
regions  and  dig  a  stock  of  bulbs.    Both,  perforce, 
must  resort  to  the  dealer  and  depend  upon  his  knowl- 
edge and  honesty,  or  on  their  own  judgment. 

As  one  who  has  hunted  the  Lily  on  cliff  and  dale, 
on  mountain-slope  and  alpine  moorland,  and  through 
woodland  and  swamp  in  many  remote  parts  of  China 
and  the  Thibetan  borderland,  and  from  the  extreme 
south  of  Japan  northward  through  that  pretty 
country  to  Saghalien  and  the  lonely  shores  of  the 
Okhotsk  Sea,  I  propose  here  to  consider,  cursorily, 
how  Lilies  grow.  No  class  of  herbs  is  more  widely 

19 


20  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

known  or  more  highly  appreciated;  on  no  class  of 
plants  is  more  money  annually  spent  (I  had  almost 
written  wasted);  and  with  no  class  of  flowers  do 
amateurs  succeed  less.  The  Lily  growers  who  have 
achieved  outstanding  success  can  be  counted  on  one's 
fingers,  and  nurserymen  have  failed  as  completely  as 
have  amateurs. 

Some  species,  like  the  Tiger  Lily  (L.  tigrinum,) 
succeed  almost  everywhere  and  often  under  the  most 
unfavorable  conditions.  Others,  like  the  Madonna 
Lily  (L.  candidum),  thrive  amazingly  in  unexpected 
places  where  they  receive  no  thought  or  attention. 
The  Madonna  Lily  is  the  glory  and  pride  of  many  a 
cottager's  garden  in  the  south  of  England  yet  often 
on  the  "squire's  estate"  near  by  neither  skill  nor  care 
can  induce  it  to  happily  make  itself  at  home.  David 
Harum  opined  that  "a  reasonable  amount  of  fleas 
is  good  for  a  dog — they  keep  him  from  brooding  on 
being  a  dog."  How  far  the  Lily  enthusiast  can  apply 
this  philosophy  to  his  own  particular  troubles  depends 
upon  the  individual  and  is  very  much  a  moot  point. 

However,  a  good  many  of  these  troubles  are  directly 
or  indirectly  of  his  own  seeking  although  he  may  be 
quite  unconscious  of  the  fact.  It  would  be  absurdly 
fallacious  to  contend  that  with  knowledge  and  care 
every  Lily-lover  can  successfully  cultivate  any  kind 


CONSIDER  THE   LILIES  21 

of  Lily  that  pleased  his  fancy,  but  knowledge  and 
care  will  teach  what  particular  kinds  can  successfully 
be  grown  and  in  time  convince  the  enthusiast  that  he 
must  be  content  with  a  limited  number.  Such 
knowledge  may  be  of  slow  growth  and  painfully 
acquired  but  such  we  value  most. 

Now,  in  passing,  let  us  devote  a  few  moments  to 
considering  the  noblest  of  all  the  Lilies — L.  auratum, 
the  "Golden-rayed  Lily  of  Japan."  How  many 
millions  of  bulbs  of  this  Lily  have  been  imported; 
how  many  thousands  of  purchasers  have  been  disap- 
pointed; how  many  letters  protesting,  or  seeking 
advice,  have  been  penned?  This  wonderful  Lily 
flowered  first  in  this  country  in  1862,  in  the  garden 
of  Francis  Parkman,  the  historian,  at  Jamaica  Plain, 
Mass.,  having  been  received  from  Japan  through  Mr. 
F.  Gordon  Dexter.  In  July,  1862,  it  flowered  in  Eng- 
land, for  the  first  time  in  Europe,  with  Messrs.  Veitch, 
from  bulbs  sent  from  Japan  by  their  collector,  John 
Gould  Veitch. 

The  Japanese  eat  the  bulbs  of  Lilium  auratum  and 
several  other  species,  but  for  its  beauty  they  do  not 
esteem  it  or  any  other  true  Lily — they  never  did. 
But  in  due  time,  after  intercourse  was  established 
between  Japan  and  western  nations,  largely  through 
the  vigorous  action  in  1853-54,  of  Commodore  Perry 


22  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

of  the  U.  S.  Navy,  the  Japanese  discovered  that  Lily 
bulbs  could  be  sold  for  much  money,  so  they  began 
ransacking  their  country  in  quest  of  these  bulbs. 
In  those  early  days  we  are  told  the  Yama-juri,  or 
Mountain  Lily  (L.  auratum),  grew  abundantly  in 
the  volcanic  ash  and  detritus  which  form  the  slopes 
of  sacred  and  sublime  Mount  Fuji.  To-day  it  still 
grows  there  but  in  decreasing  numbers;  yet  it  is  even 
now  the  most  common  wild  Lily  in  Japan.  In  the 
volcanic  deposits  throughout  the  province  of  Idzu 
it  is  abundant  and  near  by  on  the  small  island  of 
Oshima,  whose  central  part  is  an  ever  active  vol- 
cano, grows  in  quantity  the  broad-leaved  auratum 
(L.  auratum,  var.  platyphyllum). 

For  western  markets  the  dealers  demand  Lily 
bulbs  of  certain  sizes.  After  a  few  years  the  Japanese 
discovered  that  the  supply  of  wild  bulbs  meeting  the 
necessary  requirements  was  virtually  exhausted,  but 
they  quickly  found  that  in  rich,  moist  farm  land,  in  one 
or  at  most  two  years,  they  could  grow  the  small  bulbs 
culled  from  the  mountain  slopes  and  moorlands  into 
large  saleable  bulbs  and,  incidentally,  that  the  larger 
the  bulb  the  higher  its  market  value.  Then  began 
in  Japan  the  growing  of  Lily  bulbs  for  the  western 
markets  and  here  commenced  the  troubles  of  would-be 
cultivators  in  the  Occident  of  Lilium  auratum.  In 


CONSIDER   THE   LILIES  23 

books  on  Lilies  one  reads  "Lilium  auratum  grows 
in  porous,  open  soil  largely  composed  of  volcanic 
detritus  overlaid  by  a  deep  carpet  of  woodland  soil." 
The  first  part  of  this  statement  is  true  but  the  "deep 
carpet  of  woodland  soil"  is  pure  fiction. 

In  Japan  there  is  much  poor  and  hungry  soil  but 
none  more  so  than  the  slopes  of  august  Fuji  and  the 
volcanic  deposits  of  the  Idzu  province.  Around 
Matsushima,  a  beauty  spot  in  northern  Japan,  I  saw 
this  Lily  wild  in  quantity  growing  among  coarse 
grass  and  shrubs  on  low  hills  and  hillocks  of  pure, 
gray  sandstone.  In  western  Japan,  in  the  province  of 
Uzen,  I  also  met  with  it  growing  wild  on  gravelly 
banks  and  hillsides  among  small  shrubs  and  coarse 
grasses.  It  is  the  open,  porous  soil,  and  not  the  rich 
humus,  that  this  Lily  luxuriates  in.  Leafsoil  it  loves 
in  common  with  all  Lilies,  but  it  wants  no  unaerated 
acid  peat  and  it  loathes  raw  nitrogenous  manures. 
True,  bulbs  transferred  from  their  natural  haunts  to 
fields  and  cultivated  like  potatoes  increase  rapidly  in 
size  but  the  constitution  of  the  plant  is  undermined 
and  it  becomes  a  prey  to  fungoid  diseases. 

There  is  a  minimum  size  to  every  kind  of  Lily 
bulb  below  which  it  cannot  produce  strong,  flowering 
stems.  This  size  varies  according  to  the  particular 
species,  but  in  every  case  a  firm,  solid  bulb  of  moderate 


24  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE    GARDEN 

size  will  be  found  more  healthy  and  will  give  results 
more  satisfactory  than  a  large,  loose,  and  flabby  bulb. 
Purchasers  who  make  mere  size  their  standard  of 
value  often  defeat  the  object  they  have  most  closely 
in  view.  I  examined  some  bulbs  of  the  wild  L. 
auratum  and  found  them  only  about  a  couple  of 
inches  in  diameter  though  they  bore  heads  of  from 
three  to  six  flowers  and,  also,  were  absolutely  free  of 
any  sign  of  disease.  Later,  I  asked  one  of  the  largest 
and  perhaps  the  best-informed  Japanese  grower  of 
Lilies  why  he  did  not  dig  and  sell  these  wild  bulbs 
since  they  were  so  healthy  and  vigorous.  With  a 
smile  he  answered:  "My  dear  sir,  I  tried  it  once  and 
found  that  neither  in  Europe  nor  America  could  a 
purchaser  be  found  for  bulbs  so  small!" 

Of  the  genus  Lilium,  to  which  all  true  Lilies  belong, 
about  eighty  species  are  known.  All  are  confined  to 
the  waste  places  of  the  Northern  Hemisphere  and  more 
than  half  of  them  are  indigenous  in  China  and  Japan. 
The  genus  ranges  through  the  temperate  and  sub- 
tropic  regions  from  eastern  North  America  to  Cali- 
fornia and  through  eastern  Asia,  the  Himalayas,  and 
Siberia  to  the  extreme  limits  of  western  Europe.  It 
is  absent  from  the  plains  of  the  middle  west  of  North 
America  and  from  central  Asia,  and  there  are  other 
considerable  gaps  in  the  field  of  distribution.  Two 


CONSIDER   THE   LILIES  25 

species  are  found  within  and  confined  to  the  tropics, 
viz.,  L.  philippinense  in  the  Philippine  Islands,  and  L. 
neilgherrense  on  the  Neilgherry  Hills  in  southern 
India.  In  this  wide  domain  species  of  Lilium  are 
found  under  diverse  conditions  and  a  moment's  reflec- 
tion should  convince  us  of  the  futility  of  attempting  to 
cultivate  in  any  one  garden  all  the  species  obtainable. 
Botanists,  chiefly  on  the  shape  of  the  flowers, 
divide  Lilies  into  five  groups,  viz. — 

I.  Flowers  strongly  recurved  and  suggestive  of  a 
Turk's  cap,  a  familiar  example  being  the  Tiger  Lily 
(L.  tigrinum). 

II.  Flowers  large   and   funnel-shaped   as  in  the 
common  Easter  Lily  (L.  longiflorum). 

III.  Flowers  like  a  saucer  or  shallow  basin  as  in  the 
Golden-rayed  Lily  of  Japan  (L.  auratum). 

IV.  Flowers  erect  as  in  the  Umbellate  Lily  (L. 
umbellatum). 

V.  Leaves  broad  and  heart-shaped  as  in  the  Giant 
Lily  (L.  giganteum). 

For  horticultural  purposes  a  much  more  simple 
classification  may  be  invoked.  For  gardens  in  cool 
temperate  regions  Lilies  may  be  divided  into  two 
broad  groups: 

(A.)  Hardy  Lilies  of  which  L.  tigrinum,  L.  regale,  and 
L.  Henryi  may  serve  as  examples. 


26  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

(B.)  Not  Hardy,  of  which  may  be  cited  L.  longi- 
florum,  L.  sulphureum,  and  L.  nepalense. 

Again,  they  may  be  divided  into  Swamp  Lilies 
which  would  include  nearly  all  the  American  species, 
and  Dry-land  Lilies  which  would  include  most  of  the 
species  of  China  and  Japan.  With  almost  equal 
propriety  these  groups  might  be  styled  humus-loving 
and  loam-loving  respectively. 

Also,  we  might  divide  Lilies  into  shade-loving 
kinds,  as  for  example,  L.  giganteum,  and  sun-loving 
such  as  L.  regale.  But,  not  to  waste  time  it  may 
be  laid  down  as  a  law  that  in  the  average  garden 
situated  in  the  temperate  parts  of  North  America, 
only  such  species  of  Lily  as  are  perfectly  hardy 
withstand  sun,  and,  call  for  moderately  dry  land,  have 
any  chance  of  becoming  successful  denizens.  For 
such  gardens  swamp  Lilies,  woodland  Lilies,  and 
alpine  Lilies,  with  a  few  exceptions,  may  be  ruled  out 
entirely. 

Most  species  of  Lilies  detest  lime;  to  many  it  is  a 
deadly  poison;  to  none,  so  far  as  we  know,  is  lime 
essential;  but  some,  like  L.  candidum,  L.  martagon,  and 
L.  testaceum,  are  apparently  indifferent  to  its  presence 
in  the  soil. 

All  Lilies  demand  good  drainage.  When  one  thinks 
of  swamp  Lilies  this  statement  may  sound  un- 


CONSIDER   THE    LILIES  27 

scientific.  But  dig  up  a  few  of  these  Lilies  and  note 
carefully  the  exact  conditions  under  which  they  grow. 
It  will  be  found  that  the  bulb  rests  on  a  stone  or  a 
piece  of  rock,  or  in  a  tuft  of  firm  sod,  or  nestles  in 
gritty  sand.  The  roots  are  in  wet  mud  or  may  even 
hang  free  in  the  water;  but  the  bulb  is  so  placed  that 
water  cannot  stagnate  immediately  under  and  around 
it,  and  in  winter  it  is  fairly  dry. 

A  few  swamp  Lilies  like  the  native  L.  superbum  and 
the  Panther  Lily  (L.  pardalinum)  of  California  may 
be  grown  without  difficulty  among  Rhododendrons ;  but 
for  those  requiring  more  moisture,  if  their  culture  be 
attempted,  it  is  a  good  plan  to  invert  a  flower-pot  at 
the  requisite  depth,  place  the  bulb  on  the  upturned 
base  and  surround  it  with  silver-  or  gritty  river-sand. 

Sun-loving  Lilies,  although  the  upper  part  of  their 
stems  are  fully  exposed  and  their  blossoms  flaunt  in 
the  sun,  really  require  a  certain  amount  of  protection 
from  the  direct  rays  in  the  early  stages  of  their  growth. 
Lilies  are  not  desert  plants,  and  the  most  sun-loving 
among  them  are  never  found  in  areas  where  no  other 
plant  grows.  True,  some  of  them  are  denizens  of 
semi-arid  regions  but  they  are  ever  associated  with 
grasses  or  twiggy  shrubs,  among  and  through  which 
their  young  shoots  are  upthrust  and  which  break  the 
sun's  direct  rays.  Some  species  like  the  Regal  Lily 


28  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE    GARDEN 

(L.  regale,  better  known  under  the  erroneous  name  of 
L.  myriophyllum),  can  withstand  much  desiccation 
but  these  in  a  natural  state  have  their  foil  of  herbs  and 
scrub. 

Journey  in  thought  with  me,  for  a  moment  or  two, 
westward  until  "west"  becomes  "east"  although  we  still 
chase  the  setting  sun.  Across  this  continent,  across 
that  broad  ocean  misnamed  "Pacific,"  to  Shanghai, 
the  gate  of  Far  Cathay;  onward  and  westward  up  the 
mighty  Yangtsze  River  for  eighteen  hundred  miles, 
then  northward,  up  its  tributary  the  Min,  some  two 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  to  the  confines  of  mysterious 
Thibet;  to  that  little-known  hinterland  which  sep- 
arates China  proper  from  the  hierarchy  of  Lhassa;  to  a 
wild  and  mountainous  country  peopled  mainly  by 
strange  tribesf oik  of  unknown  origin;  to  a  land  where 
Lamaism,  Buddhism,  and  Phallism  strive  for  mastery 
of  men's  souls;  to  a  region  where  mighty  empires  meet. 
There  in  narrow,  semi-arid  valleys  down  which  thunder 
torrents,  and  encompassed  by  mountains  composed  of 
mudshales  and  granites  whose  peaks  are  clothed  with 
snow  eternal,  the  Regal  Lily  has  its  home.  In  sum- 
mer the  heat  is  terrific,  in  winter  the  cold  is  intense, 
and  at  all  seasons  these  valleys  are  subject  to  sudden 
and  violent  windstorms  against  which  neither  man 
nor  beast  can  make  headway.  There,  in  June,  by  the 


CONSIDER   THE    LILIES  29 

wayside,  in  rock-crevices  by  the  torrent's  edge,  and 
high  up  on  the  mountainside  and  precipice  this  Lily 
in  full  bloom  greets  the  weary  wayfarer.  Not  in 
twos  and  threes;  but  in  hundreds,  in  thousands,  aye, 
in  tens  of  thousands.  Its  slender  stems,  each  two  to 
four  feet  tall,  flexible  and  tense  as  steel,  overtopping 
the  coarse  grass  and  scrub  and  crowned  with  one  to 
several  large,  funnel-shaped  flowers  more  or  less  wine- 
colored  without,  pure  white  and  lustrous  on  the  face, 
clear  canary-yellow  within  the  tube  and  each  stamen 
tipped  with  a  golden  anther.  The  air  in  the  cool  of 
the  morning  and  in  the  evening  is  laden  with  soft, 
delicious  perfume  exhaled  from  each  bloom.  For  a 
brief  season  this  lonely,  semi-desert  region  is  trans- 
formed by  this  Lily  into  a  veritable  fairyland. 

Since  we  have,  figuratively,  traveled  so  far  to  see 
one  Lily  in  its  home  surroundings,  let  us  in  the  same 
manner  journey  a  hundred  miles  or  so  farther  and  to 
the  southwest,  and  there,  in  valleys  clothed  with 
coarse  grasses  and  low  shrubs  and  under  conditions 
but  little  less  severe  than  the  preceding  and  in  equal 
abundance,  we  find  Mrs.  Charles  S.  Sargent's  Lily  (L. 
Sargentiae)  reigning  supreme.  Westward  some  few 
miles  and  on  the  margin  of  shrubberies  at  eight  thou- 
sand feet  above  sea  level  and  on  the  very  edge  of  the 
Thibetan  grasslands  grows  Mrs.  Bayard  Thayer's  Lily 


30  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE    GARDEN 

(L.  Thayerae).  There  are  other  Lilies  which  we  have 
not  time  to  consider  but  on  our  homeward  journey 
let  us  pause  for  a  moment  in  the  geographical 
heart  of  China,  in  the  region  of  the  famous  Yang- 
tsze  Gorges,  and  visit  the  haunt  of  the  Orange- 
flowered  Speciosum  (L.  Henry i).  Inland  a  few  miles 
from  the  riverine  city  of  Ichang,  on  formations  of 
conglomerate  and  hard  carboniferous  limestones,  at 
the  edge  of  woods  and  among  tall  shrubs  we  find  here 
a  few  and  there  many  of  Henry's  charming  Lily. 

From  these  distant  regions  came  the  bulbs  of  these 
Lilies,  and  I  count  it  a  privilege  to  have  been  the  for- 
tunate discoverer  of  two,  the  introducer  of  three,  and 
the  medium  through  which  the  fourth  (L.  Henryi) 
first  became  common  in  cultivation.  I  could  tell  of 
others  equally  beautiful  were  any  good  purpose  to  be 
served  and  I  mention  these  four  not  for  personal 
reasons  but  to  direct  attention  to  the  conditions  under 
which  they  grow  wild  and  to  emphasize  that,  though 
sun-loving  and  capable  of  withstanding  much  desicca- 
tion both  from  the  action  of  sun  and  frost,  they  grow 
naturally  among  protective  herbs  and  shrubs.  These 
herbs  and  shrubs  afford  protection  in  two  ways:  in 
spring  they  screen  from  the  sun's  direct  rays  the  young 
flower-stem  of  the  Lily  after  it  emerges  from  mother 
earth;  in  the  autumn  the  fallen  leaves  of  the  shrubs 


CONSIDER   THE   LILIES  31 

and  the  dying  culms  of  the  herbs  form  a  protective 
mulch  which  as  it  decays  becomes  a  nourishing  food. 

This  brief  sketch  of  the  conditions  under  which 
certain  Lilies  grow  wild  enables  us  to  deduce  certain 
facts  of  cultural  importance.  In  the  first  place,  Lilies 
should  be  planted  among  Ferns,  or  dwarf  shrubs  such, 
for  example,  as  Lavender,  wild  Roses,  Deutzias,  Indi- 
goferas,  Lespedezas,  Comptonia,  Vacciniums,  Ericas, 
Calluna,  native  Azaleas,  Rhododendrons  and,  where 
climate  admits,  shrubby  Veronicas  and  Olearias. 

Planting  Lilies  among  shrubs  is  no  new  idea; 
twenty-five  years  or  more  ago  it  came  into  vogue. 
Some  one  achieved  great  success  through  planting 
Lilies  among  Rhododendrons  and  the  cry  went  forth 
that  this  was  the  solution  of  the  Lily  grower's 
troubles — plant  Lilies  among  Rhododendrons!  It 
is  quite  true  that  a  number  of  species  like  L.  pardali- 
num,  L.  superbum,  L.  speciosum,  L.  Hansonii  (and 
I  have  also  seen  L.  auratum)  do  well  under  such  con- 
ditions. Also  it  is  true  that  Rhododendrons  require 
peat  and  here  is  the  rub.  All  Lilies  love  leafsoil  but  a 
great  many  detest  peat.  I  have  seen  L.  Henryi  grow 
ten  feet  tall  in  loam  and  leafsoil  and  continue  to 
thrive  for  many  years.  I  have  seen  this  Lily  disap- 
pear completely  in  two  seasons  when  planted  in  pure 
peat.  Plant  Lilies  among  shrubs,  but  let  the  class  of 


32  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

shrubs  depend  upon  whether  the  particular  species  of 
Lily  loves  loam  or  humus.  For  my  own  part  I  would 
keep  away  from  peat  except  for  swamp  Lilies  and  use 
fibrous  loam,  sand,  and  leafsoil,  the  latter  in  increas- 
ing proportion  as  to  species  that  grow  naturally  in 
fairly  open  country,  thickets,  or  woods. 

Another  and  very  obvious  deduction  is  the  im- 
portance of  mulching.  In  every  garden  much  ground 
is  bare  of  vegetation  and  fully  exposed  to  the  sun  and 
elements.  In  spring,  as  the  frost  disappears,  an  in- 
spection will  show  that  this  ground  is  fissured  and 
furrowed  in  many  directions  and  any  kind  of  bulb 
which  had  been  planted  in  such  bare  soil  is  often  more 
or  less  exposed.  This  may  be  avoided  and  much 
benefit  bestowed  on  all  bulbs  by  covering  them  in 
autumn  with  a  mulch  of  rotted  leaves  or  exhausted 
manure. 

Strictly  speaking,  a  bulb  is  a  bud  just  as  much  so  as 
the  winter-bud  of  a  Hickory  or  Horsechestnut,  but 
with  this  difference:  its  scales  are  fleshy  storehouses  of 
starch  and  other  food  reserves  instead  of  merely  dry 
and  chaffy  protective  scales,  and  roots  are  emitted 
from  the  base.  These  basal  roots  anchor  the  bulb 
and  supply  it  with  water  and  certain  food  salts.  If 
we  examine  Lilies  like  L.  Henryi,  L.  auratum,  and 
L.  regale  we  find  that  the  underground  part  of  the 


CONSIDER  THE   LILIES  33 

flowering  stem  bears  masses  of  roots.  These  help  to 
feed  the  growing  stem  and  prevent  undue  exhaustion 
of  the  bulb.  After  flowering  this  root  system  assists 
in  the  rehabilitation  of  the  bulb.  Roots  emitted 
from  the  stem  above  the  ground  quickly  perish.  An 
appreciation  of  these  facts  shows  the  necessity  of  deep 
planting.  The  bulbs  of  all  stem-rooting  Lilies  (and 
the  majority  are  such)  should  be  planted  twice  their 
own  depth  down.  That  is  to  say,  a  bulb  three  inches 
high  should  have  six  inches  of  soil  covering  it  and  so 
on  in  proportion.  The  importance  of  deep  planting 
is  not  sufficiently  understood,  but  go  and  dig  up  a  few 
Lily  bulbs  from  their  native  haunts  and  it  will  be 
found  they  are  usually  deeper  down  than  twice  their 
height. 

The  majority  of  Lilies  are  at  rest,  or  nearly  so,  dur- 
ing the  winter  months  but  all  kinds  benefit  from  plant- 
ing as  early  in  the  fall  as  is  possible. 

The  Madonna  Lily  (L.  candidum)  is  an  exception  in 
several  ways.  In  the  first  place,  it  resents  moving. 
When  this  has  to  be  done  it  should  be  undertaken  not 
later  than  six  weeks  after  flowering  as  the  resting 
period  of  this  Lily  is  unusually  short.  Again,  it 
should  be  noted  that  this  Lily  has  a  mass  of  broad 
basal  leaves  independent  of  the  flowering  stem  and  it 
is  these  leaves  with  the  assistance  of  the  roots  that 


34  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE   GARDEN 

build  up  the  bulb.  This  Lily  should  have  the  top  of 
its  bulb  only  just  covered  with  soil.  It  prefers  rather 
stiff  loam  in  a  situation  fully  exposed  to  the  sun  but  it 
will  grow  in  dry  and  hungry  limestone  soils.  Bulbs 
grown  in  the  south  of  England  are  the  best  though  the 
majority  of  dealers  still  insist  that  French-grown 
bulbs  are  superior. 

From  this  cursory  consideration  of  the  conditions  in 
which  Lilies  grow  wild  in  various  parts  of  the  world  a 
few  facts  of  cardinal  importance  to  the  Lily  lover  may 
be  deduced.  In  the  first  place,  since  Lilies  inhabit  the 
waste  places  of  the  Northern  Hemisphere  it  is  obvious 
that  they  are  unaccustomed  to  rich  food.  For  this 
reason  even  stable  manure  should  not  be  used  in  their 
culture  and  artificial  fertilizers  are  absolutely  inimical. 
All  Lilies  grow  naturally  in  places  where  each  autumn 
they  receive  a  mulch  of  fallen  leaves.  Leafsoil  and 
not  manure  is  the  requisite  essential.  Nearly  all 
grow  in  well-drained  situations  and  good  drainage 
is  absolutely  necessary  to  ensure  success.  Lilies  of 
the  swamp,  woodland,  and  alpine  meadow  are  with 
rare  exceptions  difficult  to  cultivate.  Those  which 
grow  among  shrubs  and  herbs  more  or  less  exposed  to 
the  sun  are  less  exacting  and  in  this  class  is  found  the 
majority  of  the  sorts  amenable  to  cultivation  in 
ordinary  gardens. 


CONSIDER   THE   LILIES  35 

It  is  not  possible  to  lay  down  any  hard  and  fast 
rules,  but  good,  sound  bulbs  and  a  common-sense  at- 
tention to  a  few  elementary  details  are  the  essentials. 
Several  kinds  of  Lilies  present  no  more  difficulties 
under  cultivation  than  do  Narcissi  and  Tulips;  never- 
theless in  most  gardens  to  maintain  Lilies  in  good 
health  new  soil  or  removal  to  a  new  site  is  necessary 
every  few  years. 

The  following  species  will  be  found  to  thrive  and 
give  satisfaction  in  any  and  every  garden  in  tem- 
perate climes  with  the  sine  qua  non  that  sound 
bulbs  only  be  planted:  L.  tigrinum,  L.  umbellatum, 
L.  Hansonii,  L.  pardalinum,  L.  superbum,  L.  candidum, 
L.  croceum,  L.  Henryi,  L.  regale,  L.  Sargentiae  L. 
auratum,  L.  speciosum,  L.  testaceum,  and  L.  Thayerae. 


CHAPTER  III 

MIDSEASON  FLOWERING  TREES  AND 
SHRUBS 

LITTLE    REALIZED    OPPORTUNITIES    FOR    FLOWERS    IN 

THE  SUMMER  TIME — WHAT  OUR  PARKS  AND  GARDENS 

MIGHT  EASILY  DISPLAY 

THE  geographical  area  of  the  United  States  of 
America  is  so  immense  and  the  climate  is 
so  diversified  that  there  is  ample  room  in 
which  to  accommodate  out  of  doors  all  the  kinds  of 
woody  plants  known  from  the  Northern  and  Southern 
hemispheres  outside  of  the  tropics.  In  California 
the  trees  and  shrubs  of  the  temperate  regions  of  the 
Southern  Hemisphere  thrive  amazingly,  and  it  is 
probable  that  in  this  state  alone  a  greater  variety  of 
woody  plants  can  be  successfully  grown  in  the  open 
ground  than  in  any  similar  area  in  the  world.  I 
mentioned  the  Southern  Hemisphere,  but  it  should 
be  added  that  the  trees  and  shrubs  of  China,  Japan, 
the  Himalayas,  southern  Europe,  the  Caucasus,  and 
the  Mediterranean  region  of  northern  Africa  are 
equally  at  home  in  California. 

In  contrast  it  may  be  stated  that  in  the  Arnold 


Among  the  later  flowering  trees  the  native  American  Gordonia 

altamaha  is  one  of  great  interest.     The  white  flowers  appear 

in  August  and  September 


MIDSEASON   FLOWERING   TREES   AND   SHRUBS      37 

Arboretum,  Boston,  Mass.,  it  has  not  been  found 
possible  to  cultivate  successfully  any  tree  or  shrub 
native  of  the  Southern  Hemisphere.  Many  of  the 
trees  native  of  Europe  thrive  indifferently  here  and 
virtually  no  exotic  broad-leaved  evergreen  will  with- 
stand the  vagaries  of  this  austere  New  England  cli- 
mate. 

The  United  States  of  America  is  a  land  of  extremes 
but  the  horticultural  possibilities  are  well-nigh  illimit- 
able. The  day  will  dawn  when  throughout  the  length 
and  breadth  of  this  land  there  will  be  country  homes 
and  their  attendant  gardens.  Much  pioneer  work 
has  been  done  and  progress  is  being  made  but  the 
consummation  of  these  efforts  is  with  the  future. 

Though  paradoxical,  it  is  none  the  less  true, 
that  the  very  size  of  this  country  and  the  diversity 
of  its  climate  simplify  in  general,  and  at  the  same 
time  complicate  in  detail,  the  efforts  of  those  who 
treat  of  horticultural  matters.  Statements  of  a 
general  nature  may  be  absolutely  true  yet  utterly 
misleading  unless  duly  qualified.  For  example,  I 
might  assert  that  several  species  of  Eucalyptus  and 
Acacia  are  perfectly  hardy  and  quick-growing  trees 
in  the  United  States  of  America  and  recommend  their 
being  extensively  planted  in  parks  and  gardens.  To 
the  people  of  California  such  a  statement  would  be 


38  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE    GARDEN 

accepted  as  demonstrably  true.  To  the  people  of 
Massachusetts  it  would  seem  ridiculous  nonsense ! 

Therefore,  in  writing  on  horticultural  matters, 
and  especially  on  those  which  are  strongly  influenced 
by  climate,  it  is  necessary  that  one  specify  to  what 
particular  part  of  a  country  his  statements  are  in- 
tended to  apply.  It  is  unfortunate  that  one's  efforts 
must  be  circumscribed,  but  the  controlling  factors  are 
beyond  human  restraint.  In  the  case  of  these  pages  it 
must  be  remembered  that  they  have  definite  reference 
mainly  to  gardens  in  the  temperate  parts  of  eastern 
North  America.  The  scope  is  broad,  but  details  are 
necessary;  and  it  is  climate  that  controls  these  details 
since  the  plants  I  write  of  are  recommended  for  the 
embellishment  of  parks  and  outdoor  gardens. 

Eastern  North  America  is  singularly  rich  in  native 
species  of  ornamental  flowering  trees  and  shrubs, 
and  in  spring  and  early  summer  the  waysides  and 
woodlands  are  everywhere  gay  with  conspicuous 
flowers.  About  midsummer  this  wealth  of  blossom 
ceases  in  so  far  as  woody  plants  are  concerned,  and  tall- 
growing  herbs  in  meadow  and  swamp,  in  thicket  and 
forest-glade,  proudly  flaunt  their  multicolored  flowers. 
Even  in  cold  New  England,  Nature  so  economizes 
that  there  are  very  few  weeks  in  the  whole  year  when 
absolutely  no  flowers  are  to  be  found  out  of  doors. 


MIDSEASON    FLOWERING   TREES   AND    SHRUBS      39 

Taking  a  lesson  from  Dame  Nature  every  well-ordered 
garden  should  be  so  stocked  that  a  succession  of 
flowers  be  maintained. 

At  summer  resorts  the  gardeners'  efforts  are  largely 
directed  toward  the  growing  of  plants  which  blossom 
from  the  beginning  of  July  to  mid-September.  Her- 
baceous perennials,  tender  herbaceous  exotics,  and 
certain  bulbous  plants,  together  with  a  few  shrubs 
such  as  Rose  of  Sharon  (Hibiscus  syriacus),  the  Hardy 
Hydrangea  (Hydrangea  paniculatd),  and  the  Tender 
Hydrangea  or  Hortensia  (H.  opuloides,  commonly 
known  as  H.  hortensis),  and  H.  opuloides,  var.  otaksa 
are  utilized  to  produce  the  necessary  display  of 
flowers.  Without  being  critical  it  may  be  said  that 
there  is  a  sameness  in.  the  floral  displays  of  most  sum- 
mer gardens  which  is  varied  only  by  design  and  quan- 
tity. There  is  no  particular  reason  for  being  dissat- 
isfied, but,  among  woody  plants  which  flower  during 
this  season  a  much  greater  variety  could  advantage- 
ously be  grown  and  much  beauty  and  charm  added 
thereby.  The  number  though  relatively  small  is 
much  greater  than  many  suppose.  Some  of  these 
plants  are  natives  of  eastern  North  America,  a  good 
many  are  indigenous  in  China  and  Japan,  whilst  others 
hail  from  various  parts  of  Europe  and  temperate  Asia. 
Some  of  these  I  now  propose  to  discuss  in  brief  detail. 


40  ARISTOCRATS   OF   THE   GARDEN 

During  the  early  part  of  July  the  Lindens  (Tilia), 
the  largest  genus  of  summer-flowering  trees,  put 
forth  their  fragrant,  honey-laden,  pendent  blossoms. 
The  native  Sweet  Bay  (Magnolia  glaucd)  with  cup- 
shaped  white  flowers  is  also  in  blossom,  and  in  wet 
seasons  a  second  crop  of  flowers  appears  on  Magnolia 
cordata.  This  medium-sized  native  tree  has  beauti- 
ful cup-shaped  yellow  flowers  and  its  history  is  more 
than  ordinarily  interesting.  It  was  originally  dis- 
covered by  the  elder  Michaux  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Augusta,  Georgia,  some  time  between  1787  and  1796, 
and  by  him  (or  his  son)  introduced  into  France.  The 
trees  now  in  cultivation  are  derived  from  these  original 
introductions  of  Michaux.  All  efforts  to  rediscover 
this  Magnolia  failed  until  about  two  years  ago  when 
Mr.  Louis  A.  Berckmans  accidentally  "happened" 
upon  it  in  a  dry  wood  some  eighteen  miles  south  of 
Augusta.  Michaux  describes  it  as  a  tree  from  forty 
to  fifty  feet  tall,  but  the  recent  discoveries  are  bushes 
from  four  to  six  feet  tall. 

From  the  middle  to  the  end  of  July  the  Sourwood 
or  Sorrel  Tree  (Oxydendrum  arboreum),  another  Amer- 
ican tree,  is  in  flower.  A  native  of  the  Appalachian 
Mountains  where  it  grows  thirty  feet  and  more  tall, 
this  member  of  the  Heath  family  is  quite  hardy  in 
Massachusetts  where  it  commences  to  blossom  when 


MIDSEASON    FLOWERING   TREES   AND   SHRUBS      41 

only  a  few  feet  high.  The  white,  urn-shaped  flowers 
are  produced  in  great  profusion  in  terminal,  spreading 
and  slightly  drooping  compound  clusters  and  last  for 
a  long  time.  The  bright  green  leaves  have  a  pleasant 
acidulous  taste  and  turn  in  the  autumn  bright  scar- 
let. The  Sourwood  is  apparently  free  of  disease  and 
is  not  subject  to  insect  pests;  it  is  perfectly  hardy  and 
well  deserves  a  place  in  every  garden. 

Of  the  several  hardy  exotic  trees  which  flower  in 
July  and  August  at  least  three  merit  wider  recogni- 
nition,viz. — the  Varnish  Tree  (Koelreuteriapaniculata), 
the  Pagoda  Tree  (Sophora  japonicd),  and  the  Acan- 
thopanax  (Kalopanax  ricinifolium). 

The  Koelreuteria  is  native  of  northern  China  and 

was  introduced  into  Petrograd  from  the  neighborhood 

« 

of  Peking  some  time  between  1740  and  1756.     It  was 

introduced  in  1763,  into  England  by  Lord  Coventry, 
presumably  from  Petrograd.  Though  known  in  cul- 
tivation for  more  than  a  century  and  a  half  it  is  far 
from  being  as  generally  planted  as  its  beauty  warrants. 
It  is  a  small  tree  from  twenty  to  thirty  feet  tall  with 
spreading  branches,  large,  shining  green,  pinnately, 
divided  leaves,  and  erect  much-branched  panicles,  a 
foot  and  more  high,  of  numerous  bright  yellow  flowers 
which  are  followed  by  bladder-like  top-shaped  fruits. 
In  the  color  of  its  flowers  Koelreuteria  is  unique  among 


42  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

midseason  flowering  trees.  It  is  much  cultivated  in 
Peking  gardens  and  will  withstand  heat  and  drought 
as  well  as  cold.  In  the  semi-arid  valleys  of  western 
China  another  and  closely  allied  species  (K.  apiculatd) 
is  common  and  is  now  in  cultivation  in  western 
gardens. 

The  Sophora  is  allied  to  the  Locust  tree  but,  for- 
tunately unlike  the  latter,  it  is  not  subject  to  attacks 
of  boring  insects.  Its  specific  name  notwithstanding, 
Sophora  japonica  is  indigenous  in  China  and  is  only 
known  as  a  cultivated  tree  in  Japan,  having  been  in- 
troduced by  Buddhist  priests  perhaps  a  thousand 
years  ago.  In  China  this  tree  is  widely  dispersed  and 
in  the  extreme  west  is  very  common  in  rocky  and 
sandy  semi-arid  valleys.  It  is  a  very  hardy  tree, 
from  sixty  to  eighty  feet  tall,  and  has  a  dense  wide- 
spreading  oval  or  flattened  crown,  and  toward  the 
end  of  July  and  in  August  every  branchlet  termi- 
nates in  an  erect  branching  cluster  of  creamy-white 
flowers  which  are  followed  by  slender,  curiously  con- 
stricted saponaceous  pod-like  fruits. 

This  Sophora  flowered  first  under  cultivation  near 
Paris  in  1779,  having  been  raised  from  seeds  sent  from 
Peking  by  Father  d'Incarville,  a  Jesuit  priest,  about 
1747.  On  sandy  soil  in  the  Royal  Gardens,  Kew, 
where  it  was  received  from  Paris  through  J.  Gordon  in 


MIDSEASON   FLOWERING   TREES   AND    SHRUBS      43 

1753,  this  tree  thrives  remarkably  and  some  magnifi- 
cent specimens  may  be  seen  there.  Here  in  Boston, 
Mass.,  there  are  growing  several  fine  old  trees.  In 
the  park  in  which  stands  the  Temple  of  Heaven  at 
Peking  there  is  a  grand  old  avenue  of  this  tree.  The 
individuals  are  large,  with  deeply  furrowed  dark  gray 
bark  and  in  winter  they  are  singularly  Oak-like  in 
general  appearance.  In  temple  grounds  in  Japan 
fine  specimen  trees  are  occasionally  met  with.  In 
China  the  flowers  of  the  Sophora  are  used  in  prepar- 
ing a  yellow  dye  for  silk. 

The  Kalopanax  is  a  member  of  the  Ivy  family  and 
is  one  of  the  noblest  trees  of  the  cool  temperate  regions. 
It  occurs  wild,  scattered  through  the  moist  forests 
from  the  extreme  south  to  the  limits  of  northern 
Japan.  It  is  most  abundant  in  Hokkaido,  in  Korea, 
and  also  in  central  and  western  China  where  it  is  a 
valuable  timber  tree.  This  tree  grows  to  a  large  size 
and  in  Japan  specimens  eighty  feet  tall  with  a  trunk 
from  fifteen  to  twenty  feet  in  girth  are  not  rare.  In 
old  trees  the  bark  is  gray  and  deeply  furrowed,  the 
branches  thick  and  spreading  to  form  a  flattened  or 
rounded  crown.  In  young  trees  the  branches  are 
erect-spreading  and  both  they  and  the  trunk  are 
armed  with  scattered,  short,  stout  spines.  The 
dark  green  leaves  on  long  stalks  are  very  like  those 


44  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

of  the  Castor-oil  plant  (Ricinus)  and  to  this  re- 
semblance the  tree  owes  its  specific  name.  In  late 
July  and  in  August  each  branchlet  bears  a  broad,  flat 
compound  cluster  of  white  flowers  which  are  rapidly 
followed  by  shin  ng  black  Elderberry-like  fruits. 
The  large  and  handsome  palmate  leaves  give  this 
tree  a  tropical  appearance  yet  it  is  perfectly  hardy  and 
quick-growing.  In  the  Arnold  Arboretum  may  be 
seen  two  trees  each  thirty-five  feet  tall,  raised  from 
seeds  collected  in  Japan  by  Professor  Sargent  in  1892. 
These  trees  flower  and  fruit  each  year  and  have  done 
so  for  several  years  past.  This  Kalopanax  thrives  in 
ordinary  garden  soil  but  prefers  a  moist  situation.  As 
far  as  is  known  it  is  not  attacked  by  any  insect  or 
disease.  As  a  lawn  tree  or  as  a  specimen  tree  by  side 
of  water  it  is  unsurpassed  and  also  it  ought  to  be  used 
for  street  planting.  In  Hokkaido  this  tree  is  known 
as  the  "Sen,"  and  the  wood,  which  is  white  with  a 
fine  grain,  is  exported  to  China  for  railway  ties  and  to 
Europe  for  making  shop-fittings,  panels,  and  office 
furniture.  Another  Japanese  tree,  Stewartia  pseudo- 
camellia,  a  member  of  the  Camellia  family,  also 
blossoms  about  the  end  of  July  and  is  much  too  rare 
in  gardens.  In  the  moist  forests  of  the  Nikko  region 
this  tree  is  abundant  and  is  easily  recognized  by  its 
perfectly  smooth  gray-brown  bark;  the  branches  are 


MIDSEASON    FLOWERING   TREES   AND   SHRUBS      45 

ascending  and  form  a  narrow  head.  The  flowers  are 
saucer-shaped,  white  with  a  mass  of  yellow  stamens; 
they  are  very  freely  produced  and  the  tree  is  strikingly 
ornamental.  Its  eastern  North  American  relative  (S. 
pentagyna)  which  is  native  of  the  southern  Appalachian 
region,  is  a  tall  shrub  with  larger,  more  cup-shaped 
flowers  which  appear  about  mid-July.  Both  these 
Stewartias  are  hardy  as  far  north  as  Boston.  A  near 
and  equally  hardy  relative  of  these  is  Gordonia  al- 
tamaha,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  most  interesting 
of  late-flowering  American  plants.  It  is  a  shrub  from 
fifteen  to  twenty  feet  high  with  obovate-oblong  leaves 
and  pure  white  cup  or  saucer-shaped  flowers  with  con- 
spicuous yellow  stamens  which  are  produced  from 
August  to  late  September.  It  was  discovered  in  the 
region  of  the  Altamaha  River,  in  Georgia,  by  John 
Bartram,  in  1765,  and  introduced  by  his  son  William 
into  England  in  1774,  but  all  plants  now  in  cultivation 
are  from  his  second  collection  in  1778.  No  one  has 
seen  this  plant  wild  since  1790. 

Other  late-flowering  trees  worthy  of  a  place  in 
gardens  are  Rhus  javanica  (better  known  as  R. 
Osbeckii  or  R.  semialata),  Clerodendron  trichotomum, 
and  C.  trichotomum,  var.  Fargesii,  all  three  native  of 
China  and  Japan.  Unfortunately  the  two  Cleroden- 
drons  are  not  hardy  as  far  north  as  Boston,  Mass. 


46  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

Of  shrubs  there  is  quite  a  variety  which  blossom 
during  the  midseason.  By  the  middle  of  July  the 
last  of  the  Buckeyes  (Aesculus  parviflord)  is  in  flower. 
This  native  of  the  southeastern  states  is  a  broad, 
round-topped,  much-branched  shrub  from  six  to  ten 
feet  high,  and  every  branchlet  terminates  in  long, 
narrow,  erect  spikes  of  small  white  flowers  in  which 
the  stamens  are  long  exserted.  This  shrub  requires 
good  soil  and  a  moist  situation,  and  is  well  suited 
for  planting  in  large  masses  or  as  a  single  speci- 
men. 

The  Pepperbush  (Clethra),  of  which  three  species 
are  hardy  in  the  Arnold  Arboretum,  is  perhaps  the 
most  beautiful  group  of  native  shrubs  which  flower 
from  mid-July.  The  most  common  is  Clethra  alni- 
folia,  a  denizen  of  swamp  borders  and  moist  places  in 
the  neighborhood  of  the  coast  from  Maine  to  Florida. 
As  usually  seen  it  is  a  bush  from  four  to  six  feet  tall,  with 
white,  fragrant  flowers  borne  in  erect,  terminal  com- 
pound clusters.  Unfortunately  the  leaves  are  often 
disfigured  by  attacks  of  red  spider.  A  second  species 
(C.  tomentosa)  is  native  of  Florida  and  flowers  two 
or  three  weeks  later  than  the  preceding  from  which 
it  differs  chiefly  in  the  covering  of  white  hairs  on  the 
lower  surface  of  the  leaves.  The  third  (C.  acuminata) 
is  an  inhabitant  of  the  forests  of  the  southern  Ap- 


MIDSEASON    FLOWERING   TREES   AND   SHRUBS      47 

palachian  Mountains  and  is  a  less  desirable  garden 
plant.  A  fourth  species  (C.  canescens),  hardy  in  the 
vicinity  of  Boston,  hails  from  Japan  and  exceeds 
in  beauty  any  of  the  American  kinds,  but  unfortu- 
nately it  does  not  readily  make  itself  at  home  with 
us.  The  inflorescence  is  larger  than  in  the  American 
species  and  the  plant  grows  to  a  greater  size.  As  I 
write  I  have  in  mind  a  fine  specimen  fully  fourteen 
feet  high,  which  is  growing  on  a  windswept  corner  in 
a  garden  at  Winchester,  Mass.  Every  year  each 
branchlet  of  this  bush  terminates  in  large  clusters 
of  fragrant  white  flowers.  In  Japan  this  Pepper- 
bush  is  widely  distributed  and  in  moist  forests  is 
often  a  tree  forty  feet  tall  with  a  smooth  gray-brown 
trunk  five  feet  and  more  in  girth. 

At  midseason  the  Spiraeas  are  all  past  but  their 
place  is  well  taken  by  the  closely  allied  genus  Sorbaria 
which  is  distinguished  by  its  pijmate  leaves  and  ter- 
minal compound  panicles  of  flowers.  Five  species 
are  hardy  in  the  Arnold  Arboretum  and  thrive  in 
ordinary  garden  soil.  The  best  results  are  obtained 
by  planting  them  in  rich  loam  in  a  moist  place,  and 
by  the  side  of  a  pond  or  stream  their  grace  and  beauty 
are  seen  to  best  advantage.  They  are  excellent  sub- 
jects for  the  wild  garden  and  to  develop  their  full 
beauty  they  must  have  plenty  of  room.  One  of  the 


48  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE    GARDEN 

finest  of  these  Sorbarias  is  S.  arborea,  a  very  common 
shrub  in  central  and  western  China  whence  I  intro- 
duced it  into  the  Arnold  Arboretum  and  elsewhere.  On 
the  Chino-Thibetan  borderland  this  plant  is  very  abun- 
dant and  grows  from  fifteen  to  twenty  feet  high  and  as 
much  through,  and  bears  in  profusion  much-branched 
arching  panicles  often  two  feet  long  of  pure-white 
flowers.  From  the  extreme  northwestern  Himalayas 
came  S.  Aitchisonii,  with  smooth  shoots  and  pale 
green  leaves  and  even  larger  masses  of  flowers  than 
the  preceding  which  it  resembles  in  size  and  habit. 
In  Hokkaido  and  Saghalien  the  well-known  S.  sorbifolia 
is  a  shrub  from  three  to  five  feet  tall  with  erect  shoots 
which  terminate  in  rigidly  upright  wide-branched 
panicles  eighteen  inches  high.  I  retain  a  vivid  recol- 
lection of  the  picture  this  shrub  presented  during  August 
in  Saghalien.  There,  on  the  margins  of  grassy 
swamps  and  swampy  woodlands  and  by  the  side  of 
streams  and  ponds,  this  plant  luxuriates  in  great 
abundance;  its  pyramids  of  white  flowers  with  their 
prominent  stamens,  reared  on  rigid  stems  three  to 
five  feet  tall  and  subtended  by  numerous  large  deep 
green  leaves,  presented  a  never-to-be-forgotten  spec- 
tacle in  that  lonely,  silent  land. 

The  other  two  species  (S.  assurgens  from  western 
China  and  S.  stellipila  from  northern  Japan)  are  also 


MIDSEASON    FLOWERING   TREES   AND    SHRUBS      49 

well  worth  growing.  A  sixth  species  (5.  Lindleyand) 
from  the  Himalayas  is  not  hardy  with  us. 

Three  species  of  Adam's  Needle  (Yucca  flaccida, 
native  of  the  southern  Appalachians,  Y.  filamentosa 
from  Stone  Mountain,  Georgia,  and  Y.  glauca,  native 
of  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Rocky  Mountains)  are 
hardy  in  the  Arnold  Arboretum.  With  their  spear- 
like  leaves  these  plants  are  interesting  at  all  seasons 
and  when  in  flower  there  are  few  if  any  subjects  more 
beautiful.  The  tall,  branching  inflorescence  and  nod- 
ding white  flowers,  in  the  daytime  more  or  less 
top-shaped,  expand  on  moonlight  nights  when  they 
attract  the  moths  which  effect  the  fertilization  of  the 
flowers. 

Of  shrubs  with  yellow  flowers  there  are  several, 
all  native  of  southern  Europe,  the  Caucasus,  and  Asia 
Minor,  which  blossom  in  July.  Most  interesting 
among  these  are  Cytisus  nigricans,  C.  capitatus,  and 
Genista  tinctoria,  van  data,  all  three  good  garden 
plants  unfortunately  too  rarely  seen  in  American 
gardens.  The  Bladder  Sennas  (Colutea  arborescens 
and  C.  cilicicd)  flower  in  July,  and  C.  orientalis,  which 
flowers  earlier  is  covered  with  large,  thin-walled  in- 
flated pods  which  are  tinged  with  pink  and  are  very 
ornamental. 

The  yellow  shrubby  Cinquefoil  (Potentilla  fruti- 


50  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

cosa),  its  variety  parvifolia  and  the  white-flowered 
variety  Veitchii,  blossom  in  early  and  late  summer 
and  do  well  in  sunny  situations.  A  St.  John's  Wort 
(Hypericum  patulum,  var.  Henry i),  a  newcomer  from 
western  China  which  grows  from  two  to  three  feet  tall 
and  bears  large  deep  yellow  flowers,  is  also  worthy  of 
note.  With  blue  or  bluish  flowers  two  shrubby  species 
of  Clematis  (C.  heracleaefolia  from  northern  China, 
C.  stans  from  Japan)  bloom  during  this  midseason. 
Of  each  there  are  several  varieties  and  the  flowers 
are  more  or  less  tubular  in  shape.  These  plants  grow 
about  three  feet  tall  and  behave  much  as  do  herbace- 
ous perennials.  Another  beautiful  little  plant  with 
blue  flowers  unfortunately  not  hardy  around  Boston 
is  Caryopteris  incana  (better  known  as  C.  Mastacan- 
thus),  a  native  of  Japan  and  China. 

The  largest  group  of  midseason  shrubs  has  flowers 
of  pink,  red,  and  purple.  Belonging  to  the  Pea  fam- 
ily the  most  beautiful  are  Indigofera  and  Lespedeza. 
Of  the  first  named  /.  Kirilowii,  with  bright  rose-pink 
flowers,  hails  from  Korea  and  northern  China,  and 
/.  decora,  with  white  flowers,  from  Japan  and  northern 
China.  Both  are  low,  sub-shrubby  plants  with  twiggy 
shoots  and  bright  green  pinnate  leaves  and  large, 
lovely  flowers  on  long,  erect  racemes.  They  com- 
mence to  blossom  in  late  June  and  continue  to  do  so 


MIDSEASON   FLOWERING   TREES   AND   SHRUBS      51 

for  a  couple  of  months.  Another  species,  /.  Gerardi- 
ana  from  the  Himalayas,  has  rose-colored  flowers  but 
it  is  a  less  valuable  plant  for  northern  gardens.  A 
fourth  and  new  introduction  from  central  China  is 
/.  amblyantha.  This  is  an  erect,  little-branching  shrub 
from  five  to  six  feet  tall  with  erect  racemes  of  pink 
or  rose-red  colored  flowers.  It  is  a  pleasing  plant  and 
remarkable  inasmuch  as  the  racemes  continue  to 
elongate  and  produce  blossoms  from  late  June  until 
the  frosts  appear. 

Of  Lespedeza  the  hardiest  are  L.  bicolor,  L.  for- 
mosa,  and  L.  crytobotrya,  all  three  twiggy,  floriferous 
shrubs. 

A  very  charming  subject  much  too  infrequently 
met  with  in  gardens  is  Callicarpa  japonica.  This 
plant  has  opposite  leaves  and  from  the  axil  of  each 
and  every  one  arise  short-stalked  flattened  clusters 
of  pinkish  flowers.  These  are  quickly  followed  by 
masses  of  small,  round,  rose-purple  fruits  which  last 
until  the  frosts  come  and  which,  as  the  generic  name 
indicates,  are  very  beautiful. 

A  comparatively  new  and  highly  desirable  plant  is 
Elsholtzia  Stauntonii,  introduced  in  1905,  into  the  Ar- 
nold Arboretum  by  Mr.  J.  G.  Jack  from  near  the  Great 
Wall  of  China  north  of  Peking.  This  is  almost  a 
herbaceous  plant  and  may  be  treated  as  such.  It 


52  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

has  terminal  and  lateral,  more  or  less  erect  racemes 
of  rose-purple  flowers  with  long,  exserted  stamens  and 
is  most  attractive. 

As  a  group  with  lilac,  rose,  and  vinous-purple  flow- 
ers the  most  valuable  recent  addition  to  midseason 
shrubs  is  unquestionably  Buddleia  Davidii  (more  gen- 
erally known  as  B.  variabilis)  and  its  varieties,  and 
these  are  fast  winning  well-deserved  popularity  in 
this  country  under  the  name  of  Summer  Lilac.  They 
are  inhabitants  of  central  and  western  China  where 
they  are  essentially  fluviatile  plants  though  here  and 
there  they  ascend  moist  herb  or  shrub-clad  slopes. 
They  are  scarcely  hardy  as  far  north  as  Boston,  Mass., 
but  cuttings  of  half-ripe  wood  inserted  under  glass  in 
autumn  root  readily  and  these  if  planted  out  early 
in  June  will  make  large  bushes  and  flower  profusely 
in  August  and  September.  A  rich,  loamy  soil,  full 
sunshine,  and  an  abundant  water  supply  are  the 
essentials.  Grown  in  this  manner  I  have  measured 
the  tail-like  inflorescence  over  thirty  inches  long. 
In  the  Garden  Magazine,  April,  1916,  appeared  an 
illustrated  article  on  these  plants  so  there  is  no  need 
even  for  the  introducer  to  enter  into  further  details 
concerning  them.  But  as  an  expression  of  opinion 
perhaps  I  may  be  allowed  to  say  that  my  own  favorite 
is  the  var.  magnifica  which  is  distinguished  by  its 


MIDSEASON   FLOWERING   TREES   AND    SHRUBS      53 

relatively  large,  intense  violet-purple  flowers  with  the 
edge  of  the  petals  crinkled  and  slightly  recurved. 
And,  further,  I  do  vigorously  protest  against  the  ab- 
surd name  of  "Butterfly  Bush"  which  some  dealers 
would  fain  foist  upon  us  as  a  popular  name  for  these 
shrubs. 

As  finality  is  impossible  I  must  omit  details 
on  some  of  the  more  generally  known  midseason 
flowering  shrubs  such  as  Veronica  augustifolia,  its 
varieties  and  hybrids,  Ceanothus  hybridus  and  others, 
Abelia  grandiflom,  Amorpha  canescens  and  certain 
other  plants,  yet  I  must  have  a  word  or  two  on  those 
favorite  low-growing  shrubs,  the  Ling  and  Hardy 
Heaths.  People  other  than  those  of  Scotch  descent 
have  a  warm  affection  for  these  charming  little 
shrubs  and  there  is  no  valid  reason  why  this  fondness 
should  not  be  indulged.  Ling  and  Heaths  are  sun- 
loving  plants  and  their  successful  culture  demands 
that  they  be  planted  in  open  situations  fully  exposed 
to  the  sun.  A  moist,  sandy  soil  in  which  peat  is  liber- 
ally admixed  are  the  other  requisites,  and  the  plants 
thrive  better  in  shallow  than  in  deep  soils.  The 
hardiest  of  the  Heaths  are  Erica  cornea  and  its  variety 
alba  which  commence  to  blossom  in  early  spring  as  the 
snow  and  frosts  disappear.  The  Cornish  Heath, 
E.  vagans  and  its  varieties  alba,  grandiflora,  and  rubra, 


54  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

and  the  Ling  (Calluna  vulgaris)  of  which  there  are 
more  than  a  dozen  varieties,  are  almost  equally  hardy 
and  commence  to  flower  in  July  and  continue  in 
blossom  until  the  late  autumn.  Other  Heaths  like 
E.  Mackaii,  E.  stricta,  E.  Tetralix,  E.  cinerea  (Downy 
Heath)  and  Doboecia  polifolia  (Irish  Heath)  are  not 
hardy  as  far  north  as  Boston,  Mass.,  but  they  will 
probably  thrive  south  of  New  York  City. 


Clematis  montana-var.  rubens,  about  three  inches  across,  is  an 

attractive  vine  with  rose  colored  flowers.     It  is  not  quite  hardy 

in  New  England 


CHAPTER  IV 

THE  BEST  OF  THE  HARDY  CLIMBING 
SHRUBS 

PERMANENT  VINES  FOR  TRELLIS  AND  WALL  THAT  WILL 
GIVE  A  SUCCESSION  OF  FLOWER  TO  LATE  FALL 

ONE  of  the  fundamental  properties  of  the  living 
substance  of  plants  and  animals  (protoplasm) 
is  irritability  or  sensitiveness — the  power  of 
responding  to  external  stimuli.  The  class  of  plants 
under  consideration  here  owes  its  origin  to  this  pe- 
culiar property,  and  the  most  casual  among  us  may 
derive  both  pleasure  and  instruction  from  observing 
this  irritability  in  operation.  Twining  stems  and 
other  organs  specially  adapted  for  the  purpose  of 
assisting  plants  to  climb  are  very  sensitive  to  con- 
tact. Further,  if  the  necessary  contact  or  external 
stimulus  be  denied  the  growth  of  many  climbing 
plants  is  retarded.  For  example,  when  the  young 
shoots  of  Pole  Beans  commence  to  elongate  and  cast 
round  as  it  were  (nutate)  for  some  support  every 
gardener  and  farmer  knows  that  poles  must  be  affixed 
or  the  crop  of  beans  will  be  a  failure.  In  the  forests 

55 


56  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE   GARDEN 

and  thickets  where  climbing  plants  grow  wild  their 
associate  plants  are  seized  upon  and  forced  to  assist 
these  climbers  in  rearing  themselves  against  gravity 
toward  the  sunlight. 

A  majority  of  our  hardy  woody  climbers,  for  ex- 
ample Wistaria,  Actinidia,  Celastrus,  climb  by  means 
of  twining  stems.  In  a  number  the  stems  coil  in  a 
definite  direction  and  refuse  absolutely  to  be  cajoled 
into  twining  in  any  other  direction.  For  example: 
the  shoots  of  a  common  European  Woodbine  (Loni- 
cera  Caprifolium)  twine  from  right  to  left  (clockwise), 
those  of  the  Dutchman's  Pipe  (Aristolochia  duriof) 
twine  from  left  to  right  (counter-clockwise).  The 
why  of  this  is  outside  our  immediate  discussion  but 
that  it  is  fact  may  be  proven  by  all  who  will  take  the 
trouble  to  examine  these  plants. 

Another  large  group  climbs  by  means  of  tendrils 
which  are  specially  modified  organs.  In  the  Grape- 
vine (Vitis)  an  abortive  inflorescence  developed  from 
the  side  of  the  shoot  opposite  the  leaf  is  the  specially 
adapted  climbing  organ.  The  closely  allied  Boston 
Ivy  (Parthenodssus  tricuspidatd)  has  the  free  ends  of 
the  tendril  flattened  into  discs  which  firmly  adhere  to 
walls  and  rocks.  In  Smilax  the  stipules  are  modified 
to  form  tendrils.  In  Clematis  the  stalk  of  the  leaf 
and  leaflets  serves  the  purpose.  In  another  group  to 


HARDY  CLIMBING   SHRUBS  57 

which  belongs  Ivy  (Hedera  Helix),  Climbing  Hy- 
drangea (Hydrangea  petiolaris)  and  Evonymus  radi- 
cans,  short  roots  are  freely  emitted  everywhere  on  the 
stem  on  the  side  away  from  the  light  and  these  adhere 
tenaciously  to  the  object  affording  support.  In  the 
Trumpet-flower  (Campsis)  the  shoots  twine  somewhat 
and  also  emit  roots  but  only  from  definite  localized 
points.  Other  plants  like  certain  Roses  climb  or 
cling  by  means  of  hooked  prickles. 

These  facts  are  not  merely  interesting  in  themselves 
but  are  of  direct  practical  importance  to  all  who  wish 
to  enjoy  in  their  gardens  climbing  plants  since  they 
indicate  clearly  the  nature  of  the  support  needed  by 
each  group. 

It  is  the  fashion  nowadays  to  erect  in  the  immediate 

• 

vicinity  of  the  house  a  heavy,  massive  structure  of 
masonry  or  wood  and  style  it  euphemistically  a  per- 
gola. As  to  its  merits  as  an  architectural  feature  I  have 
no  criticism  to  offer.  In  lands  of  perennial  sunshine 
like  southern  California,  Arizona,  and  other  dry 
southern  states,  such  arbors  clothed  with  climbing 
plants  dowered  with  ample  foliage  afford  welcome  re- 
lief and  serve  as  cool  and  delightful  retreats  from  the 
hot  sun's  rays.  But  in  northern  lands  such  structures, 
if  intended  primarily  for  the  accommodation  of 
climbing  plants,  would  certainly  look  more  attractive 


58  ARISTOCRATS   OF   THE    GARDEN 

and  be  equally  serviceable  if  constructed  on  a  less 
massive  scale.  To  my  mind  the  dominant  features  in 
any  and  every  garden  should  be  the  living  plants 
themselves,  and  structures  erected  for  their  accommo- 
dation should  be  subordinate  to  the  requirements  of 
the  plants.  As  an  illustration,  some  friend  invites  us 
to  view  his  or  her  Rambler  Roses.  Now  it  is  the 
Roses  we  admire  and  it  is  intended  that  we  should 
admire  them,  and  not  the  structure  on  which  they 
cling,  no  matter  how  costly  or  architecturally  beauti- 
ful this  structure  may  happen  to  be.  Simplicity 
combined  with  mechanical  stability  should  be  the 
sine  qua  non  of  all  structures  intended  for  the  accom- 
modation of  climbing  plants  in  the  garden  or  the  im- 
mediate precincts  of  the  house. 

Neat  posts  made  of  reinforced  concrete  and  firmly 
inserted  fifteen  to  eighteen  feet  apart  in  the  ground 
with  stout  copper  or  galvanized  wire  run  through 
make  a  lasting  trellis  which  if  ten  feet  high  will  serve 
for  all  the  perfectly  hardy  stem  and  tendril-climbing 
plants.  Climbers  so  planted  display  their  beauty  to 
the  best  advantage  and  this  arrangement  will  form  an 
excellent  screen  to  the  garden  or  it  may  be  so  affixed 
as  to  form  an  avenue  or  arbor.  Note,  however,  that 
it  is  said  those  "perfectly  hardy"  for  be  it  remembered 
that  on  a  trellis  the  plants  are  fully  exposed  to  the 


HARDY   CLIMBING    SHRUBS  59 

elements  and  especially  to  the  strong  winds  and 
draughts  which  are  far  more  trying  than  low  tempera- 
tures. Under  the  lee  of  a  stone  fence  is  the  ideal  site 
for  planting  climbers  of  all  sorts  and  a  far  greater 
number  will  thrive  under  such  conditions  than  on  a 
trellis.  Hook-climbers  and  many  stem-climbers  do 
well  and  look  most  effective  if  planted  among  or  on 
top  of  large  boulders  where  they  can  develop  into  a 
dense  tangle.  On  such  rocks  if  planted  at  the  base 
root-climbers  and  those  which  have  discs  at  the  ends 
of  their  tendrils  do  well.  Root-climbers  also  thrive 
on  the  north  and  west  sides  of  buildings  and  likewise 
on  trees.  If  climbers  be  planted  with  the  intention  of 
their  ascending  and  wandering  over  trees  it  should  be 
borne  in  mind  that  sooner  or  later  it  means  the  death 
of  the  tree  by  strangulation  and  suffocation. 

Climbing  plants  are  found  nearly  all  over  the  world. 
They  are  especially  abundant  in  the  tropics  where 
they  form  a  most  striking  feature  in  the  forests.  They 
are  also  plentiful  in  moist  forests  of  the  temperate 
regions  of  both  hemispheres  but  they  are  absent  from 
alpine  and  arctic  regions.  Broadly  speaking,  it  may 
be  said  that  they  occur  everywhere  where  trees  and 
large  shrubs  grow  and  the  more  moist  the  climate  the 
more  exuberant  their  growth.  Always  they  grow  in 
association  with  other  woody  plants  which  afford 


60  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

them  not  only  means  of  support  but  protection  from 
cold,  chilling  draughts.  In  eastern  North  America 
there  are  many  native  climbers  of  great  beauty  and 
ornamental  value  and  the  variety  available  for  the 
embellishment  of  gardens  situated  in  cold  northern 
districts  is  much  greater  than  many  suppose.  A 
selection  of  these  I  now  propose  to  pass  in  brief  re- 
view. 

Unquestionably  the  most  beautiful  of  all  climbers 
hardy  in  cool  temperate  regions  is  Wistaria,  every- 
where so  deservedly  popular  and  widely  cultivated. 
Now  the  name  Wistaria  was  given  in  1818,  by  the 
American  botanist,  Nuttall,  to  an  American  plant 
(W.  frutescens),  which  had  been  in  cultivation  in 
England  since  1724,  as  Glycine  frutescens,  in  honor  of 
an  American  physician  Dr.  Caspar  Wistar,  Professor 
of  Anatomy  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  In 
1818,  John  Reeves,  an  officer  of  the  English  East 
India  Company,  sent  from  Canton,  China,  to  England, 
a  climber  which  received  the  name  Glycine  sinensis. 
In  1825,  De  Candolle,  a  Frenchman,  correctly  referred 
this  plant  to  Nuttall's  genus  Wistaria.  To-day,  and 
for  many  decades  past,  Wistaria  and  Wistaria  sinensis 
have  been  synonymous  in  the  popular  mind.  Indeed, 
comparatively  few  people  know  that  here  in  eastern 
North  America  there  are  native  species  of  Wistaria,  so 


HARDY   CLIMBING   SHRUBS  61 

completely  has  their  oriental  relative  surpassed  them 
in  popular  appreciation. 

The  Chinese  Wistaria  is  native  of  the  eastern  part 
of  China  and  is  not  completely  hardy  as  far  north  as 
Boston,  Mass.  It  requires  some  protection  and  this 
is  usually  afforded  by  planting  it  against  houses. 
Even  then  in  severe  winters  the  flower  buds  get  killed. 

In  scenes  of  Japanese  gardens  and  temple  grounds 
and  in  Japanese  paintings  and  embroideries  most 
people  are  familiar  with  a  Wistaria  having  very  long 
racemes  of  flowers.  This  plant  is  known  generally  as 
Wistaria  multijuga  but  is  really  only  a  garden  form  of 
the  common  wild  Wistaria  of  Japan  ( W.  floribunda) 
and  correctly  should  be  called  W.  floribunda,  var. 
macrobotrys.  The  type  is  abundant  on  the  mar- 
gins of  moist  woods  and  thickets  and  especially 
by  the  side  of  streams,  ponds,  and  ditches  vir- 
tually all  over  Japan  and  has  racemes  of  pale  purple 
flowers  one  and  one-half  feet  long.  In  Japanese 
gardens  forms  with  white  and  pinkish  flowers  with 
racemes  two  and  two  and  one-half  feet  long  are 
cultivated,  and  also  a  purple-flowered  form  with 
racemes  which  I  myself  have  measured  sixty-four 
and  one-half  inches  long!  These  plants  are  always 
grown  by  the  side  of  ponds  and  streams  and  the  stems 
trained  to  form  an  arbor,  and  it  is  unlimited  water 


62  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

supply  during  the  time  of  flowering  that  accounts  for 
the  phenomenally  long  racemes.  Did  we  in  New 
England  attempt  to  cultivate  this  plant  in  the  Jap- 
anese manner  I  fear  King  Frost  would  play  sad 
havoc  and  the  results  would  be  less  satisfactory  than 
those  we  at  present  achieve.  But  farther  south  the 
plan  would  doubtless  succeed,  and  even  in  the  north 
some  simple  means  of  providing  the  plants  with  an 
abundant  water  supply  as  the  flower  buds  expand 
could  be  found. 

The  Japanese  Wistaria  was  introduced  into  Europe 
about  1870-2,  but  seeds  were  received  in  this  country 
by  Samuel  Parsons  of  Flushing,  Long  Island,  in  March, 
1862,  from  Dr.  George  R.  Hall.  It  is  hardier  than  its 
more  widely  known  Chinese  relative  and  therefore 
deserves  to  be  more  generally  cultivated  in  the  north. 
The  flowers  are  slightly  smaller  and  open  rather  later 
but  are  fragrant  and  equally  beautiful.  The  white, 
purple,  and  pinkish  forms  are  equally  hardy  and  may  be 
grown  in  the  manner  as  the  Chinese  species  usually 
is  or  on  a  trellis.  There  is  also  a  form  with  ugly 
double  purple  flowers.  This  was  first  cultivated  in 
this  country  in  the  garden  of  Francis  Parkman,  the 
historian,  at  Jamaica  Plain,  Mass.,  in  1862,  having 
been  received  from  Japan  through  Mr.  F.  Gordon 
Dexter. 


HARDY   CLIMBING   SHRUBS  63 

The  Japanese  Wistaria  is  erratic  in  the  matter  of 
flowering  and  if  raised  from  seeds  decades  may  pass 
before  any  flowers  appear.  Grafts  from  flowering 
plants  should  be  used  in  propagating  and  by  this 
means  plants  only  three  to  four  feet  tall  will  blossom. 

One  of  the  most  vigorous,  hardy,  and  popular  of 
all  stem-climbers  is  Actinidia  arguta,  a  native  of 
Japan,  which  has  glossy  green  leaves  with  red  stalks 
and  small,  saucer-shaped  white  flowers  with  numer- 
ous stamens  and  black  anthers.  There  are  two  forms 
of  this  and  all  other  species  of  Actinidia,  one  with 
purely  male  flowers  and  another  with  perfect  flowers. 
The  latter  bears  fruits  which  are  edible  and  which 
may  be  made  into  a  preserve.  Two  other  hardy 
Japanese  species  of  Actinidia  (A.  kolomikta  and  A. 
polygamd)  are  in  cultivation  and  in  these  a  varying 
number  of  the  foliage  leaves  are  white  passing  to  pink- 
ish and  increase  the  attractiveness  of  these  plants. 
Unfortunately  cats  have  a  strong  partiality  for  A. 
polygama,  clawing  and  tearing  it  into  shreds,  and  good 
examples  are  rarely  seen.  Those  desiring  to  grow 
this  climber  must  protect  it  from  cats  by  wire  netting. 
The  handsomest  of  all  the  Actinidias  and  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  of  all  climbers  is  A.  chinensis  and  it  is 
much  to  be  regretted  that  this  valuable  new  plant  is 
not  hardy  so  far  north  as  Boston,  Mass.  It  is  a  vig- 


64  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

orous  grower  with  large  leaves  varying  in  shape  from 
nearly  round  to  ovate  and  pointed,  and  large  white, 
changing  to  buff-yellow,  deliciously  fragrant  flowers. 
The  shoots  and  leaves  when  young  are  covered  with 
crimson  hairs  which  add  much  to  the  beauty  of  the 
plant.  The  fruits  are  rounded  to  oval,  from  one  and  one- 
half  to  two  inches  long,  russet-colored  and  more  or  less 
hairy.  The  skin  of  the  fruit  is  very  thin  and  the  flesh  is 
green,  sweet,  and  pleasant  to  the  palate,  and  is  ex- 
cellent for  dessert  or  for  making  a  preserve.  In 
the  south  and  west  there  is  a  future  for  this  Actinidia 
not  only  as  an  ornamental  but  also  as  a  fruit-bearing 
climber.  Although  discovered  in  China  by  Robert 
Fortune  in  1846,  it  was  not  introduced  until  1900, 
when  I  first  sent  seeds  to  England. 

A  comparatively  new,  hardy,  and  very  beautiful 
plant  is  Tripterygium  Regelii,  with  brown,  spotted 
stems,  bright  green  leaves,  and  large  clusters  of  small 
white  flowers  which  are  followed  by  curious,  winged 
fruits.  It  is  native  of  Japan  and  Korea  and  so  also 
are  Schisandra  chinensis,  Akebia  lobata,  and  A.  quin- 
ata.  These  are  hardy  stem-climbers  with  good  foli- 
age, rather  inconspicuous  flowers,  and  ornamental 
fruits.  Very  free-flowering  climbers  in  June  are 
Periploca  graeca  from  southeastern  Europe  and  P. 
sepium  from  northern  China  which  have  glossy  green 


HARDY   CLIMBING   SHRUBS  65 

leaves  and  curious  purplish  flowers  with  recurved 
petals  with  horn-like  outgrowths  at  the  base.  The 
Chinese  plant  is  the  hardier.  The  Supple-Jack 
(Berchemia  scandens)  from  the  southeastern  states 
and  its  Japanese  relative  B.  racemosa  are  hardy  and 
have  neat,  deep  green  prominently  veined  leaves, 
small  greenish  flowers,  and  bunches  of  red  changing 
to  shining  black  fruits. 

The  native  Waxwork  (Celastrus  scandens)  and  its 
relatives  C.  articulata  and  C.  flagellaris  from  north- 
east Asia  and  Japan  are  good  trellis  plants  but  they 
are  seen  to  best  advantage  as  a  tangle  on  and  over 
large  rocks.  The  first  two  have  the  male  and  female 
flowers  on  different  plants  but  in  C.  flagellaris,  which 
has  little  hooks  at  the  base  of  the  leaf-stalk  that  assist 
it  to  climb,  the  sexes  are  on  the  same  individual. 
In  the  autumn  when  laden  with  yellow  fruit  which 
opens  and  exposes  the  seeds  with  their  brilliant 
orange-scarlet  coverings,  there  are  few  plants  of  equal 
beauty.  If  branches  be  cut  just  as  the  fruits  com- 
mence to  open  and  placed  in  vases  without  water  the 
ornamental  value  is  retained  throughout  the  winter. 
The  best  of  the  three  species  is  C.  articulata. 

For  planting  against  low  walls  and  on  rocks  the 
Matrimony-vines  (Lycium  chinense  and  L.  halimi- 
folium)  are  very  useful  and  in  late  summer  and 


66  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

autumn  when  laden  with  their  conspicuous  scarlet 
fruits  they  are  very  attractive. 

A  very  beautiful  twining  plant  but  one  not  always 
easily  established  is  Polygonum  baldschuanicum  from 
central  Asia.  It  grows  eight  to  twelve  feet  tall  and 
produces  masses  of  white  flowers  which  change  to 
pink  with  age.  Its  near  relative  P.  multiflomm,  from 
China  and  Japan,  is  a  much  more  vigorous  grower 
with  larger  clusters  of  flowers  but  it  is  not  nearly  so 
hardy  and  cannot  be  grown  out  of  doors  as  far  north 
as  Boston,  Mass. 

Among  the  American  species  of  Honeysuckle  there 
are  several  good  hardy  climbers  but  the  best  is  Loni- 
cera  Heckrotti,  a  hybrid  of  unknown  origin.  From 
the  middle  of  June  until  the  early  frosts  appear  this 
plant  is  in  blossom.  The  flowers  which  are  borne  in 
clusters,  are  deep  rose  color  without  and  pale  yellow 
within  and  though  fragrant  only  in  the  evening  they 
are  very  beautiful.  Very  vigorous  growers  are  L. 
flava  and  L.  glaucescens,  with  yellow  flowers;  L.  pro- 
lifera  (better  known  as  L.  Sullivantii)  with  yellowish 
flowers;  and  L.  sempervirens  with  scarlet  flowers; 
L.  hirsuta  has  hairy  leaves  and  flowers  with  a  yellow 
tube  and  orange-red  lip;  and  the  hybrid  L.  Brownii 
and  its  form  fuchsioides  have  wine-colored  flowers. 
The  European  Honeysuckles  or  Woodbines,  (L.  Per- 


HARDY   CLIMBING   SHRUBS  67 

iclymenum  of  which  there  are  several  varieties  one 
of  which  var.  belgica,  known  as  the  Dutch  Honey- 
suckle, is  continuous  blooming)  and  L.  Caprifolium 
are  or  ought  to  be  well-known  favorites.  Hall's 
semi-evergreen  Japan  Honeysuckle  (L.  japonica,  var. 
Halliana)  needs  no  comment  and  even  more  beautiful 
is  the  Chinese  variety  (L.  japonica,  var.  chinensis) 
with  red-colored  young  shoots  and  leaves.  The 
Chinese  name  for  this  plant,  Chin-yin-hwa,  i.  e.,  Gold 
and  Silver  flower,  is  singularly  appropriate.  Many  of 
these  Honeysuckles  are  very  subject  to  the  attacks 
of  a  black  aphis  and  they  can  only  be  kept  in  good 
condition  by  careful  spraying  with  an  antidote  early 
in  the  season  as  the  leaves  unfold. 

The  Trumpet-flower  (Camp sis  radicans,  better 
known  as  Tecoma  radicans),  a  native  of  Missouri  and 
Texas  to  Virginia,  is  a  common  and  much  appreciated 
climber.  The  variety  praecox  and  the  hybrid  C. 
hybrida  are  also  valuable  plants,  but  these  are' in  size 
and  beauty  of  flowers  surpassed  by  their  Chinese 
relative  C.  chinensis,  though  unfortunately  it  is  much 
less  hardy.  In  the  Chinese  plant  the  flowers  are 
orange-scarlet  and  the  shade  is  more  pleasing  than 
that  of  the  American  kinds.  All  are  vigorous  grow- 
ers with  shining  green  divided  leaves  and  they  climb 
by  means  of  tufts  of  roots  emitted  from  the  stem  oppo- 


68  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

site  the  base  of  the  leaf  stalks.  Closely  allied  to  this 
is  the  Cross-vine  (Anisostichus  capreolatus,  better 
known  as  Bignonia  capreolatd)  so  abundant  in  the 
southeastern  states,  and  which  has  large  trumpet- 
shaped  flowers  orange-yellow  within  the  tube,  dark 
scarlet  without.  This  plant  which  climbs  by  means 
of  tendrils  which  have  discs  at  the  ends,  is  not  hardy 
around  Boston  though  with  care  it  can  be  kept  alive. 

A  root-climber  that  should  be  in  every  garden  is 
the  Climbing  Hydrangea  (H.  petiolaris).  It  is  per- 
fectly hardy  and  does  well  on  walls  with  a  north  or 
west  exposure,  on  buildings  and  on  trees,  and  bears 
at  the  ends  of  short  lateral  branches  flat  clusters 
eight  to  ten  inches  across  of  white  flowers.  The 
leaves  are  of  good  size,  deep  green  in  color  and  the 
plant  is  not  subject  to  insect  attacks  or  disease.  This 
climber  is  abundant  in  the  moist  forests  of  Japan  and 
was  introduced  into  the  Arnold  Arboretum  in  1876. 
I  have  seen  in  the  forests  of  northern  Japan  and  in 
Hokkaido  trees  from  seventy  to  eighty  feet  tall 
covered  with  masses  of  flowers  of  this  Hydrangea  and 
a  most  fascinating  picture  they  presented. 

A  smaller  growing  Japanese  climber  and  even  more 
beautiful  than  the  preceding  but  unfortunately  less 
easy  to  establish,  is  Schizophragma  hydrangeoides. 
It  is  very  like  the  Climbing  Hydrangea  in  foliage  and 


HARDY   CLIMBING   SHRUBS  69 

habit  but  the  inflorescence  on  the  outside  has  pure 
white  ovate  bracts  instead  of  four-partite  sterile 
flowers.  This  plant  does  well  at  Newport,  R.  I., 
but  is  difficult  to  procure.  The  name  appears  in 
most  catalogues  of  nursery  stock  but  the  plant  sup- 
plied under  this  name  is  almost  invariably  the  Climb- 
ing Hydrangea. 

Clematis  has  more  variously  colored  flowers  than 
any  other  genus  of  hardy  climbers.  There  are  species 
with  white,  blue,  pink,  scarlet,  claret-red,  and  yellow 
flowers  and  their  flowering  season  is  from  the  early 
summer  until  autumn.  They  are  excellent  subjects 
for  trellises,  low  walls  and  arbors  but  it  should  be  re- 
membered that  these  plants  are  fond  of  lime.  The 
large  star-shaped  flowers  of  the  Japanese  C.  patens, 
and  C.  florida  which  also  grows  in  China,  and  the 
Chinese  C.  lanuginosa;  the  European  C.  Viticella, 
their  various  colored  garden  forms;  and  the  Jack- 
mani  hybrids  which  are  mixtures  of  all  three,  capti- 
vate the  attention  wherever  seen  and  all  garden  lovers 
desire  to  possess  them.  The  white  flowered  C. 
montana  from  eastern  Asia  is  an  old  favorite.  A 
variety  of  this  (C.  montana,  var.  rubens)  with  rose- 
colored  flowers  from  two  and  one  fourth  to  three  inches 
across  and  dark  foliage,  which  I  had  the  pleasure  of 
introducing  to  cultivation  in  1900,  is  acclaimed  by 


70  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

garden-lovers  to  be  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  all 
the  Clematis.  Around  Boston  it  has  not  proved  com- 
pletely hardy;  but  at  Newport,  R.  I.,  some  good  ex- 
amples may  be  seen.  The  white-flowered  C.  Fargesii 
and  the  summer-blooming  C.  montana,  var.  Wilsonii 
with  large  fascicles  of  flowers  are  also  desirable  plants. 
In  June  blossoms  C.  tangutica,  which  has  pale  green 
leaves  and  lovely  clear  yellow  top-shaped  flowers,  and 
is  a  native  of  northwestern  China;  also  the  scarlet- 
flowered  C.  coccinea  from  Texas.  Another  hardy 
species  from  northern  China  is  C.  glauca.  This  and 
its  variety  akebioides  have  bronzy  yellow  obconical 
flowers  which  are  produced  in  August.  In  early 
September  the  Japanese  C.  apiifolia  is  a  billowy  mass 
of  small  white  flowers  and  its  well-known  fellow 
countryman,  C.  paniculata,  is  quite  indispensable. 
This  list  could  easily  be  extended  but  it  includes  the 
best  and  most  easily  grown  kinds  which  supply  a  suc- 
cession of  flowers  over  the  full  period  of  summer. 

Of  climbing  plants  with  handsome  leaves  no  class 
exceeds  in  vigor  and  beauty  the  Grapevines  (Vitis). 
Many  beautiful  species  are  native  of  this  country, 
but  the  noblest  of  all  is  V.  Coignetiae  from  northern 
Japan.  This  Vine  has  broad  heart-shaped  leaves  of 
enormous  size  and  much  substance,  dark  green  and 
netted  above  with  a  felt  of  brown  hairs  on  the  under- 


HARDY   CLIMBING   SHRUBS  71 

side  and  in  autumn  they  change  to  scarlet  and  crim- 
son. It  is  the  most  vigorous  of  Hardy  Vines  and 
in  the  moist  forests  of  northern  Japan  climbs  to  the 
tops  of  trees  sixty  feet  and  more  tall,  and  in  the  thick- 
ets, glades,  and  on  the  margins  of  woods  and  swamps, 
makes  an  impenetrable  jungle.  The  fruit  is  jet 
black,  globose  and  edible  and  the  plant  is  one  to 
which  breeders  of  new  fruits  might  well  turn  their 
attention.  This  climber  is  very  common  in  the 
colder  parts  of  Japan  and  I  shall  long  remember  its 
exuberant  growth  and  vivid  autumn  coloring  as  I 
saw  it  around  Lake  Towada  in  early  October,  1914. 
Another  equally  hardy  species  but  less  vigorous 
and  with  smaller  leaves  is  V.  amurensis  from  eastern 
Siberia.  From  China,  western  gardens  have  recently 
received  a  number  of  new  and  ornamental  species 
of  Vitis  and  in  England  they  have  become  very  popu- 
lar. Unfortunately  they  have  not  proved  quite 
hardy  in  this  country  as  far  north  as  Boston,  Mass, 
but  there  is  ample  room  to  the  south  on  this  Atlantic 
seaboard  not  to  mention  the  Pacific  slope.  Perhaps 
the  most  beautiful  of  these  newcomers  is  V.  Davidii 
(more  usually  called  V.  armata)  and  its  variety 
cyanocarpa  (better  known  as  Veitchii),  which  have 
prickly  shoots  and  large  glossy  metallic  green,  heart- 
shaped  pointed  leaves  pale  on  the  underside  and 


72  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE   GARDEN 

changing  in  the  autumn  to  scarlet  and  crimson. 
Other  good  sorts  are  V.  reticulata,  V.  betulifolia,  V. 
pentagona,  V.  Piasezkii  with  variously  incised  and 
lobed  leaves,  V.  flexuosa,  var.  parvifolia  (commonly 
known  as  var.  Wilsonii)  with  small  lustrous  me- 
tallic green  leaves  and  V.  Romanetii  with  bristly 
shoots. 

Temperate  North  America  is  remarkably  rich  in 
species  of  Vitis  and  in  the  Arnold  Arboretum  no 
fewer  than  fourteen  are  perfectly  hardy  on  the  trel- 
lises. All  are  good  and  it  is  not  easy  to  make  a  selec- 
tion. Among  the  handsomest  are  V.  cinerea,  V. 
bicolor,  and  V.  Doaniana.  The  first-named  grows 
wild  on  the  river  banks  of  the  Mississippi  Valley 
from  Illinois  to  Kansas  and  Texas.  It  is  a  most  vig- 
orous plant  with  leaves  dark  green  above,  ashy  gray 
below  and,  like  the  young  shoots,  clothed  when  they 
unfold  with  a  felt  of  gray  hairs.  The  second  species 
is  native  of  the  northern  and  middle  states  and  is 
equally  vigorous  and  has  large  deeply  lobed  leaves 
which  are  dark  green  above  and  bluish  green  below. 
The  third  is  a  comparatively  new  plant,  native  of  the 
Texas  Panhandle  but  is  quite  hardy  and  fast  growing 
with  large  rather  pale  bluish-green  leaves  of  very 
firm  texture.  Other  beautiful  Vines  are  the  Summer 
Grape  (V.  aestivalis)  with  the  leaves  rusty-brown  on 


HARDY'  CLIMBING   SHRUBS  73 

the  underside;  the  Frost  Grape  (V.  cordifolid)  with 
thin  light  green  leaves;  the  Sugar  Grape  (V.  rupestris) 
with  small,  shining  metallic  green  leaves  and  reddish 
shoots;  and  V.  labrusca,  the  common  Fox  Grape  of 
New  England.  For  covering  trellises  and  walls  the 
native  Grapevines  are  invaluable  and  their  merit 
deserve  the  widest  recognition. 

Three  most  widely  grown  climbers  are  the  native 
Virginia  Creepers  (Parthenocissus  vitacea,  P.  quinque- 
folid)  and  the  Boston  Ivy  (P.  tricuspidata,  better 
known  as  Ampelopsis  Veitchii)  a  native  of  China  and 
Japan,  and  all  three  are  remarkable  for  the  brilliant 
autumn  colors  of  their  leaves.  The  hardiest  of  the 
trio  is  P.  quinquefolia,  which  in  nurseries  is  usually 
sold  under  the  name  of  Ampelopsis  Englemanii.  This 
is  hardy  as  far  north  as  Ottawa,  Canada,  and  clings 
to  walls  and  buildings  by  means  of  discs  at  the  ends  of 
the  tendrils.  There  are  several  varieties,  the  best, 
known  as  San  Paulii,  is  common  in  Illinois  and  Mis- 
souri. In  Europe  P.  quinquefolia  is  little  known  and 
there  P.  vitacea  passes  for  it.  This,  however,  is  a 
very  different  plant  and  will  not  cling  to  walls  but 
with  its  shining  green  leaves  and  rich  autumn  tints  it 
is  a  splendid  plant  for  trellis-work.  Two  other 
beautiful  but  less  hardy  species  from  China  are  P. 
Henryana,  which  has  a  white  stripe  down  the  centre 


74  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

of  each  lobe  of  the  leaf,  and  P.  Thomsonii  with  reddish 
leaves  claret-purple  on  the  underside. 

In  foliage  the  most  delicate  and  attractive  and  in 
fruit  among  the  most  beautiful  of  all  climbers  is 
Ampelopsis  aconitifolia  and  its  variety  palmiloba. 
The  leaves  are  finely  dissected  and  the  fruit  which  is 
freely  produced  changes  as  it  ripens  from  yellow  to 
blue  and  pale  purple.  The  closely  allied  A.  humuli- 
folia,  A.  micans,  A.  heterophylla  and  A.  brevipedun- 
culata,  all  from  China,  have  clear  turquoise  blue  fruits. 
A  remarkable  species  is  A.  megalophylla,  a  new-comer 
also  from  China,  with  much  divided  leaves  a  yard 
across. 

Among  the  Birthworts  (Aristolochia)  are  several 
hardy  climbers  well  worth  growing  for  the  sake  of 
their  foliage;  mention  may  be  made  of  A.  tomen- 
tosa  and  A.  durior  (better  known  as  A.  sipho)  whose 
curious  flowers  gave  origin  to  its  vernacular  name  of 
Dutchman's  Pipe,  natives  of  eastern  North  America, 
and  their  relatives  A.  moupinensis  from  western 
China  and  A.  Kaempferi  from  Japan.  The  flowers  of 
these  plants  though  not  conspicuous  are  very  interest- 
ing and  their  fertilization  is  effected  by  flies. 

The  Moonseeds  too  have  fine  foliage,  and  their 
curiously  ridged  and  curved  seeds  are  enclosed  in 
fleshy  blue-black  fruits.  Three  species  are  hardy, 


HARDY   CLIMBING   SHRUBS  75 

viz:  the  Canadian  Moonseed  (Menispermum  cana- 
dense),  eastern  Siberian  (M.  dauricum),  and  the  Chi- 
nese (Sinomenium  acutuni).  A  closely  allied  twiner 
is  Cocculus  trilobus  (better  known  as  C.  Thunbergii) 
native  of  China  and  Japan  which  is  remarkable  for  the 
variability  in  shape  of  its  leaves. 

The  native  Greenbriers  (Smilax  rotundifolia  and  S. 
hispida),  with  their  Japanese  relative  S.  Sieboldii  and 
two  or  three  other  species,  are  interesting  as  being  the 
only  hardy  woody  climbers  in  one  great  division  of  the 
vegetable  world  to  which  belong  the  Palms  and 
Grasses  and  which  is  designated  by  botanists  Mono- 
cotyledons. 

Species  of  evergreen  climbers  are  few  in  number 
in  the  north  temperate  regions  and  none  occurs  in 
the  cold  northern  parts  of  this  continent.  In  the 
Arnold  Arboretum  the  only  really  hardy  and  satisfac- 
tory evergreen  climber  is  the  Japanese  Evonymus 
(E.  radicans)  and  its  variety  vegetus.  These  are  root- 
climbers  and  do  well  on  walls  and  trees  and  like  other 
plants  of  their  class  form  a  bushy  growth  when  old 
enough  to  produce  flowers.  The  axillary  short- 
stalked  clusters  of  greenish-white  flowers  appear  in 
late  June  and  are  followed  by  white  fruits  which  open 
and  display  in  marked  contrast  the  seeds  with  their 
orange-scarlet  coverings.  The  type  has  narrowly 


76  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

ovate  pointed  to  lance-shaped  leaves;  the  variety 
vegetus  obovate  to  broadly  oval  leaves  rounded  at 
the  apex,  dark  green  and  (in  the  winter  in  particular) 
glossy.  This  variety,  which  is  a  better  garden  plant 
than  the  type,  was  raised  in  the  Arnold  Arboretum 
from  seeds  received  from  Sapporo,  Hokkaido,  in 
1876.  In  both  of  these  plants  a  variegated  condition 
often  appears  though  it  is  more  frequent  in  the  type. 
In  the  juvenile  stage  these  plants  have  marbled  leaves 
and  look  very  different  from  the  adult  condition.  A 
prostrate  plant  sold  in  nurseries  as  E.  kewensis  or 
E.  minimus  with  small  broadly  oval,  marbled  leaves 
is  nothing  but  a  juvenile  form  of  E.  radicans,  var. 
vegetus.  It  originated  from  seeds  collected  in  Japan  by 
Professor  Sargent  in  1892. 

A  new  and  hardy  Honeysuckle  (L.  Henryi)  from 
China  is  a  welcome  addition  to  the  small  list  of  ever- 
green climbers.  The  clustered  flowers  are  tubular, 
reddish  within  and  yellow  stained  red  without  but 
are  not  very  conspicuous  and  these  are  followed  by 
dull  black  fruits.  The  leaves  are  dark  green  of  good 
size  and  substance  and  keep  their  color  through  the 
winter.  This  plant  makes  a  fine  tangle  over  rocks 
or  on  the  bare  ground,  but  is  not  very  satisfactory 
on  a  trellis  around  Boston. 

In  milder  climates  south  of  Boston,  Mass.,  the 


HARDY   CLIMBING   SHRUBS  77 

common  Ivy  (Hedera  Helix),  of  which  there  are  many 
distinct  and  striking  forms,  should  be  cultivated. 
This  plant  ranges  through  Europe,  northern  Africa 
and  northern  Asia  to  Japan  and  is  extremely  poly- 
morphic. The  varieties  amurensis,  chrysocarpa,  col- 
chica,  crenata,  deltoidea,  rhombea  and  canariensis 
(Irish  Ivy)  are  among  the  best.  There  are  also 
many  variegated  forms  and  those  who  like  such  plants 
may  indulge  their  fancy.  The  new  Clematis  Armandi 
from  central  China  with  white  flowers,  and  its  form 
Farquhariana  with  pink  flowers,  should  be  especially 
useful  in  the  south  and  on  the  Pacific  Slope.  The 
three-foliolate  leaves  are  dark  polished  green  and  the 
flowers  each  two  to  three  inches  across  are  freely 
produced  in  large  axillary  clusters.  For  gardens 
situated  where  a  genial  climate  prevails  I  count  this 
Clematis  among  the  most  desirable  and  beautiful 
of  plants  I  have  been  privileged  to  introduce  into  cul- 
tivation. 


CHAPTER  Vf 

ORNAMENTAL   FRUITED    TREES   AND 
SHRUBS 

ABUNDANCE   OF  AVAILABLE   MATERIAL  TO   GIVE   BRIL- 
LIANCY    AND     CHARACTER     TO       AMERICAN     GARDENS 
DURING    FALL  AND  WINTER 

E7ERS  of  woody  plants  who  live  in  eastern 
North  America  enjoy  certain  advantages  over 
their  British  compeers  and  for  these  the  much- 
abused  climate  is  responsible.  In  New  England  and 
the  north  generally,  we  are  denied  the  wealth  of  hardy 
evergreen  plants  which  thrive  in  Old  England  and  the 
variety  of  plants  which  will  grow  out  of  doors  is  less, 
but  there  are  compensations.  The  plants  that  do 
thrive  here  grow  more  rapidly,  flower  more  freely,  and 
fruit  very  much  more  profusely  than  they  do  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  Nothing 
strikes  a  horticulturist  from  Great  Britain  more 
forcibly  than  the  wealth  of  fruit  which  here  de- 
velops on  the  shrubs  and  trees.  Such  visitors  find 
that  many  old  and  familiar  plants  possess  a  world  of 
beauty  heretofore  quite  unknown  to  them,  and  certain 
it  is  that  all  the  perfectly  hardy  woody  plants  put 

78 


o 

0) 

— 

1 


§ 


3    tub 

CX    D 

as 

x  ~ 


I 


11 
§  ° 

CTJ 


o 

J5 

D. 


I 

CO 


ORNAMENTAL  FRUITED  TREES  AND  SHRUBS   79 

forth  their  maximum  ornamental  qualities  in  this 
climate. 

The  full  value  of  trees  and  shrubs  for  their  orna- 
mental fruits  is  not  properly  appreciated  at  the  pres- 
ent time,  otherwise  a  more  extensive  variety  would  be 
planted.  A  great  number,  as  for  example :  the  Honey- 
suckles, Dogwoods,  Viburnums,  Crabapples,  and 
Wild  Roses,  also  have  strikingly  beautiful  flowers. 
The  utilitarian  spirit  has  been  keen  on  developing  and 
cultivating  trees  and  shrubs  bearing  edible  fruits,  but 
aesthetic  taste  has  rather  neglected  those  of  purely 
ornamental  value.  We  shall  get  round  to  a  proper 
appreciation  of  these  later,  and  in  due  time  in  planting 
our  shrubberies  and  borders  we  shall  inquire  not 
merely  what  kind  and  color  of  flowers  a  woody  plant 
has  but  also  the  color  and  character  of  its  fruit.  In- 
deed, to  make  sure  of  these  facts  the  tendency  to  visit 
notable  collections  and  see  for  ourselves  will  grow 
stronger,  and  less  and  less  will  garden  lovers  be  content 
to  accept  opinion  second  hand.  The  increased  love 
of  and  for  gardens  now  happily  evident  in  this  coun- 
try will  not  always  be  satisfied  with  the  very  limited 
variety  of  good  shrubs  and  trees  commonly  purchas- 
able but  will  insist  that  those  who  make  a  business  of 
supplying  these  plants  keep  in  stock  an  all-round 
selection  of  the  most  valuable  and  really  hardy  orna- 


80  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

mental  woody  plants.  As  interest  and  knowledge  in- 
crease the  intrinsic  value  of  Arboreta  will  become  ap- 
parent and  the  educational  import  of  such  institutions 
will  receive  its  proper  recognition  from  a  discerning 
public  who  will  duly  appreciate  the  advantages  de- 
rived from  the  experimental  testing  of  the  hardiness, 
adaptability,  and  ornamental  qualities  of  all  the  avail- 
able material  which  has  been  culled  from  the  utter- 
most parts  of  the  world. 

Every  flowering  plant  produces  fruit,  and  in  char- 
acter and  form  the  variety  is  infinite.  In  this  chap- 
ter we  are  only  concerned  with  such  hardy  woody 
plants  as  bear  succulent  fruits  all  of  which  on  ripening 
assume  more  or  less  brilliant  colors.  In  the  develop- 
ment of  the  flower  and  in  the  perfecting  of  the  fruit 
Nature's  objective  is  definite.  It  may  be  set  forth  as 
an  axiom  that  in  the  diversity  of  form  among  flowers 
Nature's  endeavor  is  mainly  to  insure  their  fertiliza- 
tion through  the  agency  of  the  insect  world :  in  the  per- 
fecting of  the  succulent  fruit  it  is  toward  making  it 
attractive  to  birds  so  as  to  insure  through  their  agency 
the  dispersal  of  the  seeds.  Dame  Nature  is  prodigal, 
but  although  she  apparently  cares  nothing  for  the  in- 
dividual she  lavishes  endeavor  on  securing  the  perpet- 
uation of  the  species  and  the  safety  of  the  race. 

This   cooperation   invoked   by  Nature  opens  up 


ORNAMENTAL  FRUITED  TREES  AND  SHRUBS   81 

another  interesting  field.  Nowadays  people  are  begin- 
ning to  appreciate  the  feathered  world  and  public 
opinion  is  aroused  to  the  necessity  of  preserving  our 
birds.  Societies  have  been  formed  with  this  object 
in  view  and  laws  have  been  promulgated  for  the 
furtherance  of  this  purpose.  Far  and  wide  the  habit 
is  spreading  of  fixing  up  boxes  of  various  designs  to 
serve  as  nesting  places  for  our  feathered  friends.  All 
this  is  very  laudable,  but  something  more  is  necessary 
since  birds  require  food,  and  especially  during  the 
winter  months,  as  well  as  houses  in  which  to  rear 
their  young.  The  natural  food  of  a  great  number  of 
our  useful  birds  is  in  part  or  wholly  the  fruits  of  plants. 
Therefore,  whosoever  plants  trees  and  shrubs  bearing 
succulent  fruits  also  provides  the  birds  with  a  supply 
of  food. 

The  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture  is 
giving  attention  to  this  important  matter  and  in 
March,  1914,  one  of  the  investigators  visited  the 
Arnold  Arboretum  for  the  purpose  of  studying  the 
plants  growing  there  which  might  furnish  birds  with 
winter  food.  "His  examination  revealed  the  fact 
that  fleshy  fruits  of  the  sort  eaten  by  birds  were  still 
hanging  on  the  branches,  and  in  good  condition,  of  one 
hundred  and  ten  species  of  woody  plants,  and  that  the 
fruit  on  fifteen  other  species,  although  dry,  was  still 


82  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

available  as  bird  food.  Of  these  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  species  only  forty-nine  are  natives  of  the 
United  States  and  only  thirty  of  New  England."  I 
quote  the  Bulletin  of  the  Arnold  Arboretum,  and  it 
will  be  remembered  that  the  winter  of  1913-14  was  one 
of  the  severest  recorded  for  this  part  of  the  world. 

Among  succulent  fruits,  black  and  white  and  all  the 
colors  of  the  spectrum  are  represented  but,  in  contrast 
with  flowers,  the  colors  are  usually  pure.  Vari- 
colored fruits  are  almost  non-existent  although  among 
crabapples,  plums,  cherries,  and  their  kin  the  color  may 
vary  on  different  sides  of  the  same  fruit.  Yellow- 
colored  flowers  are  very  abundant,  but  yellow  fruits 
are  decidedly  rare  among  hardy  northern  plants.  In 
flowers  botanists  do  not  regard  mere  color  as  of  dis- 
tinctive importance  but  with  fruits  in  general  it  is  of 
considerable  and  often  significant  value. 

In  eastern  North  America,  even  for  the  cold  climate 
of  New  England,  there  is  available  a  vast  array  of 
woody  plants  which  bear  succulent,  bright,  colored 
fruits.  A  great  many  are  native  and  others  have 
come  from  Europe  and  Asia  and  more  especially  from 
China  and  Japan.  Of  shrubs  the  most  important 
family  hardy  in  the  northeastern  part  of  North 
America  is  probably  the  Honeysuckle  family  which  in- 
cludes not  only  Climbing  and  Bush  Honeysuckles  but 


ORNAMENTAL  FRUITED  TREES  AND  SHRUBS   83 

that  beautiful  group  known  as  Viburnum  and  also  the 
Snowberries  (Symphoricarpos)  and  Elderberries 
(Sambucus).  This  family  is  closely  followed  and  per- 
haps equalled  by  that  of  the  Rose  which  includes  trees 
as  well  as  shrubs.  The  more  important  members  are 
the  Hawthorns  (Crataegus),  the  Crabapples  (Malus), 
the  Rowan  (Sorbus),  Plums  and  Cherries  (Prunus), 
Blackberries  and  Raspberries  (Rubus),  Cotoneaster, 
and  the  Rose  itself.  In  these  two  families  black  and 
white  and  all  the  cardinal  colors  except  green  occur. 
Next  in  order  may  be  placed  the  Dogwood  family  and 
the  single  genus  Cornus  has  black,  white,  red,  and 
blue  fruits  on  its  different  species.  The  Gooseberry 
and  Currants  (Ribes)  have  not  only  black,  white,  red, 
yellow,  purple,  and  wine-colored  but  also  green  or 
greenish  fruits.  The  only  other  hardy  shrub  I  can 
think  of  with  greenish-colored  fruit  is  the  native 
Leatherwood  (Direct  palustris).  Perhaps  the  most 
popular  family  of  berried  plants  is  that  of  the  Holly 
(Ilex)  which  has  red,  black,  and  yellow  fruits.  Then 
there  are  the  Barberries  with  red,  black,  and  purple 
fruits;  the  Spindle-tree  (Evonymus)  and  Waxwork 
(Celastrus),  which  belong  to  the  same  family,  have 
white,  pink,  red,  and  orange-colored  fruits  which  open 
and  display  the  seeds  with  their  orange  or  scarlet 
covering.  The  Ivy  and  Rhamnus  families  mostly 


84  ARISTOCRATS   OF    THE   GARDEN 

have  black  fruits;  the  Mulberry  and  its  relative  the 
Hackberry  (Celtis)  black,  white,  red,  and  orange- 
colored  fruit.  The  Spicebush  (Benzoin  aestivale)  has 
scarlet  fruit  and  the  Sassafras,  black  fruit  seated  in  a 
scarlet-colored  cup.  The  Elaeagnus  and  its  allies 
have  red  or  orange-red  fruits;  the  Blueberries  (Vac- 
cinium)  black,  blue-black,  and  red  fruits.  The 
native  Persimmon  (Diospyros  virginiand)  has  orange- 
colored  and  the  Tupelos  (Nyssa)  mostly  blue-black 
fruits.  The  Asiatic  Corktree  (Phellodendron)  has 
black  and  many  of  the  Sumachs  (Rhus)  red  fruits. 
Lastly,  mention  may  be  made  of  Symplocos  panicu- 
lata,  a  native  of  the  Far  East,  which  has  clear  tur- 
quoise-blue fruit. 

The  fourth  chapter  deals  with  climbing  plants,  so 
they  are  excluded  from  what  follows  and  attention 
is  concentrated  on  trees  and  shrubs.  Perhaps  it  will 
conduce  to  clearness  if  we  divide  our  subject  into 
groups  denoted  by  color,  but  it  is  well  to  remember 
that  such  grouping  must  often  be  a  little  arbitrary. 

RED   FRUITS 

Under  this  general  heading  may  be  classed  a  large 
and  attractive  group  whose  conspicuous  and  hand- 
some fruits  are  striking  at  any  season  but  are  especially 
so  in  winter.  Among  native  trees  and  shrubs  un- 


ORNAMENTAL  FRUITED  TREES  AND  SHRUBS   85 

doubtedly  the  most  beautiful  are  the  Hawthorns 
(Crataegus)  whose  decorative  value  is  not  fully 
realized.  The  number  of  species  is  very  great  and 
some  are  low  shrubs  and  others  large  trees;  the  fruit 
varies  greatly  in  size  and  in  the  length  of  time  it  re- 
mains on  the  branches.  In  a  group  so  large  selection  is 
onerous  but  the  six  which  follow,  though  equalled 
by  others,  are  not  surpassed  by  any.  The  so-called 
Washington  Thorn  (C.  cordatd)  is  a  slender  tree, 
from  twenty  to  thirty-five  feet  tall,  with  a  small  and 
shapely  crown  and  clusters  of  small  scarlet  shining 
fruits  which  ripen  in  October  and  remain  on  the  tree 
without  much  change  in  color  until  the  spring.  In  C. 
nitida,  which  is  a  large  tree  with  spreading  slightly 
pendulous  branches,  the  scarlet  fruits  are  of  medium 
size  in  drooping  clusters,  ripening  in  October  and  re- 
maining on  the  trees  until  winter  is  far  advanced.  A 
remarkably  handsome  species  is  C.  Arnoldiana  with 
large  bright  crimson  fruits  ripening  about  the  middle 
of  August  and  falling  in  September.  This  is  a  small 
tree  with  ascending  and  spreading  branches  and  slender 
very  zigzag  branchlets  which  form  a  broad  irregular 
crown.  Crataegus  succulenta  is  a  shrub  or  small  tree 
with  a  broad  irregular  head  and  drooping  clusters  of 
moderately  large,  globose,  bright  scarlet  fruits  which 
ripen  about  mid-September  and  remain  on  the 


86  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

branches  until  the  middle  of  November.  Another 
shrub  or  slender  tree  is  C.  pruinosa  with  horizontally 
spreading  branches  and  large,  sub-globose  purple-red 
fruits  in  clusters  ripening  late  in  October  and  remain- 
ing on  the  branches  until  about  the  end  of  November. 
The  Cockspur  Thorn  (C.  crus-galli)  is  a  moderate-sized 
tree  with  rigid,  spreading  branches  and  drooping 
clusters  of  fairly  large  sub-globose  dull  red  fruits  which 
ripen  late  in  October  and  remain  on  the  branches  until 
spring.  Mention  must  also  be  made  of  C.  punctata 
which  has  drooping  clusters  of  large  sub-globose  fruits, 
dull  red  or  bright  yellow  in  color  and  which  ripen 
and  fall  in  October.  This  well-known  Hawthorn  is 
a  moderately  flat-topped  tree  with  stout,  straight 
spreading  branches  and  is  widely  distributed  from  the 
St.  Lawrence  Valley  to  North  Carolina  and  to  Illinois. 
The  best  known  of  the  Old  World  Hawthorns  are 
C.  Oxyacantha  and  C.  monogyna  of  which  there  are 
very  many  varieties  and  in  which  dull  red-colored 
fruits  predominate.  A  species  from  northern  China 
and  Mandshuria  (C.  pinnatifida)  with  red  fruits  is  one 
of  the  best  of  all  Hawthorns.  The  wild  form  is  a 
medium-sized  shrub  with  relatively  small  fruits,  but 
this  species  has  long  been  cultivated  as  a  fruit  tree 
in  orchards  in  northern  China  and  by  cultivation  it 
has  developed  into  a  tree  with  large  and  edible  fruit. 


ORNAMENTAL  FRUITED  TREES  AND  SHRUBS   87 

Closely  allied  to  Crataegus  is  Sorbus  Aucuparia,  the 
Mountain  Ash  or  Rowan-tree,  and  when  laden  with 
its  broad  flat  clusters  of  small  bright  scarlet  fruits  has 
no  peer  among  ornamental  fruited  trees.  There  are 
several  varieties  including  a  form  with  pendulous 
branches  and  another  with  yellow  fruits.  Scattered 
over  the  north  temperate  regions  are  several  species 
closely  allied  to  the  foregoing,  and  in  this  country 
grows  S.  americana  and  its  large  fruited  variety 
decora,  possibly  the  most  beautiful  of  all. 

The  Flowering  Dogwood  (Cornus  florida),  appreci- 
ated as  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  native  trees  of 
small  size,  is  also  strikingly  handsome  in  the  fall  when 
laden  with  its  scarlet  teat-like  fruits  in  close  heads. 
The  Old  World  Cornus  mas  bears  red  cherry-like  fruits, 
hence  its  vernacular  name,  Cornelian  Cherry.  There 
is  a  variety  of  this  (xanthocarpa)  with  yellow  fruit. 

The  English  Holly  (Ilex  Aquifolium)  with  its  bright 
red  berries  and  shining  green  leaves  and  so  celebrated 
in  poetry  and  folk-lore  is  not  hardy  around  Boston, 
Mass.,  but  farther  south  it  may  be  grown  and  there  is 
no  more  beautiful  evergreen  tree.  Among  its  very 
numerous  varieties  is  one  (fructu-luteo)  with  yellow 
fruits.  The  native  Holly  (/.  opaca)  with  dull  green 
leaves  is  a  hardier  but  inferior  tree  from  an  ornamen- 
tal viewpoint.  The  native  Black  Alder  or  Winter- 


88  ARISTOCRATS   OF   THE   GARDEN 

berry  (/.  verticillata),  its  ally  /.  laevigata,  and  the 
Japanese  /.  Sieboldii  are  hardy  shrubs  with  deciduous 
leaves  and  strikingly  beautiful  with  their  clusters 
of  scarlet  fruits.  Of  the  Winterberry  there  is  a 
variety  (chrysocarpd)  with  yellow  fruits  and  of  /. 
Sieboldii  a  variety  (fructu-albo)  with  white  fruits. 
Closely  allied  to  these  is  the  Mountain  Holly  (Nemo- 
panthus  mucronatus),  a  common  shrub  in  the  swampy 
woods  of  New  England,  with  dull  crimson  fruits  on 
slender  stalks  and  neat  foliage. 

A  very  attractive  small  tree  is  the  Chinese  Evony- 
mus  Bungeanus  which  bears  in  great  profusion 
stalked  clusters  of  pink  capsules.  There  are  several 
other  Spindletrees  with  pinkish  and  reddish  fruits, 
and  one  that  ought  to  be  in  every  garden  is  E.  alatus, 
a  native  of  the  Far  East.  This  is  a  large,  wide-spread- 
ing shrub  with  corky-winged  branches  and  red  fruits, 
and  the  leaves  assume  in  autumn  intense  shades  of 
red  and  crimson. 

The  lime-loving  Buffaloberry  (Shepherdia  argentea) 
and  S.  canadensis,  and  their  relatives  the  Sea  Buckthorn 
(Hippophae  rhamnoides)  and  the  Oleasters,  of  which 
the  hardiest  are  Elaeagnus  longipes,  E.  umbellata,  E. 
multiflora,  and  E.'angustifolia,  which  is  a  slender  tree 
with  silvery  Willow-like  leaves,  are  a  group  of  fasci- 
nating plants  worthy  of  the  widest  recognition. 


ORNAMENTAL  FRUITED  TREES  AND  SHRUBS   89 

Provided  they  be  given  sufficient  room  to  develop, 
no  shrubs  are  more  beautiful  in  fruit  than  the  Bush 
Honeysuckles  of  which  there  is  a  great  variety. 
The  best  with  red  fruits  hails  from  the  Old  World 
and  none  is  more  handsome  than  Lonicera  Morrowii, 
native  of  northern  Japan.  This  is  a  fairly  large 
growing  shrub  with  spreading  branches  and  bears  in 
enormous  quantities  bright  crimson  berries  which 
ripen  in  early  July  and  remain  on  the  branches  until 
winter.  The  common  Tatarian  Honeysuckle  (L. 
tataricd),  which  ranges  from  southern  Russia  to 
central  Asia  and  of  which  there  are  many  varieties, 
still  remains  one  of  the  best.  Another  old  and  valu- 
able species  is  L.  Ruprechtiana  native  of  northeast 
^continental  Asia.  Others  are  L.  Xylosteum  with  wine- 
colored  fruits,  native  of  Europe,  Asia  Minor,  and 
western  Siberia  and  L.  chrysantha,  with  lustrous  crim- 
son fruits,  from  northeastern  Asia.  These  five 
species  have  long  been  in  cultivation  in  Europe  and 
this  country  and  have  given  rise  to  numerous  hybrids 
more  beautiful  even  than  themselves.  Among  the 
best  of  these  with  red  fruits  are  L.  muscauiensis  and  L. 
muendeniensis.  The  former  originated  in  a  nursery  at 
Muskau  in  Silesia  from  seeds  received  from  the 
Petrograd  Botanic  Gardens  and  is  considered  to  be  a 
hybrid  between  L.  Ruprechtiana  and  L.  Morrowii.  It 


90  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE    GARDEN 

is  a  large  shrub  twelve  feet  high  and  more  in  diameter 
with  arching  and  spreading  branches  and  masses  of 
crimson  fruits  which  ripen  early  in  July.  The  latter 
is  a  mixture  of  L.  tatarica,  L.  Morrowii,  and  L. 
Ruprechtiana  which  originated  in  the  Botanic  Garden 
at  Muenden  in  central  Germany.  It  is  also  a  large 
shrub  with  erect-spreading  branches,  rather  small 
leaves,  and  scarlet  berries. 

Smaller  growing  plants  with  spreading  and  droop- 
ing branches  and  bright  scarlet  fruits  are  L.  thibetica, 
L.  syringinantha,  and  its  variety  Wolfii  from  western 
China.  Two  other  handsome  sorts  which  ripen  their 
dark  scarlet  fruits  late  in  the  fall  are  L.  Maackii  from 
northeastern  Asia  and  its  variety  podocarpa  from 
central  and  western  China.  These  are  large  shrubs 
ten  to  fifteen  feet  tall  and  as  much  in  diameter. 

Many  kinds  of  Barberry  have  red  fruits  but  none  is 
more  handsome  than  the  native  Berberis  canadensis 
with  pendent  masses  of  scarlet  fruits.  Almost  equally 
beautiful  is  the  allied  B.  vulgaris.  The  crimson  fruits 
of  the  favorite  B.  Thunbergii,  which  are  borne  singly 
from  the  leaf-axils,  are  very  attractive  and  so  too  are 
the  racemose,  salmon-red  fruits  of  B.  sinensis  and  the 
red  fruits  of  the  vigorous  growing  B.  amurensis.  A 
low-growing  and  decidedly  valuable  plant  for  rockeries 
in  particular  is  the  new  B.  Wilsonae  from  the  Chino- 


ORNAMENTAL  FRUITED  TREES  AND  SHRUBS   91 

Thibetan  borderland,  which  bears  globose,  brilliant 
salmon-red  fruits. 

The  Highbush  Cranberry  ( Viburnum  americanum) 
is  one  of  the  most  conspicuous  of  red-fruited  native 
shrubs  and  in  this  respect  is  more  ornamental  than  its 
close  allies  V.  Opulus  from  Europe  and  V.  Sargentii 
from  northeastern  Asia.  Two  Japanese  species  (V. 
Wrightii  and  V.  dilitatum),  both  medium  sized  shrubs, 
ought  to  be  grown  for  their  lovely  fruits.  The  red- 
fruited  Elderberry  (Sambucus  racemosd)  of  northern 
Europe  and  western  Asia  is  also  a  desirable  shrub 
especially  for  planting  in  moist  places  and  by  the 
sides  of  ponds.  Its  relative  (S.  callicarpd)  from 
western  North  America  and  northern  Japan  is,  as 
I  saw  it  in  August,  1914,  one  of  the  finest  of  native 
shrubs  in  fruit. 

The  Old  World  genus  Cotoneaster  includes  some  of 
the  most  beautiful  of  all  berried  plants  and  many  of 
them  are  suitable  for  rockeries.  From  China,  which 
is  the  headquarters  of  the  genus,  gardens  have  re- 
cently received  many  valuable  additions.  Among  the 
best  are  the  low-growing  C.  horizontalis,  its  small- 
leaved  variety  perpusilla,  C.  adpressa,  and  the  trailing 
C.  Dammeri;  of  the  moderate  sized  species,  C.  disticha, 
C.  divaricaia,  C.  hupehensis,  C.  multiflora,  C.  racemi- 
flora,  C.  racemiflora,  var.  soongorica,  C.  bullata  and  its 


92  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

variety  macrophylla.  These  are  all  perfectly  hardy 
shrubs  and  worthy  of  a  prominent  place  in  every  gar- 
den. Farther  south  the  evergreen  C.  salicifolia  and  its 
varieties  floccosa  and  rugosa  ought  to  be  grown. 
And  so  too  should  be  the  European  Buisson  ardent 
(Pryacantha  coccinea),  its  variety  Lalandii,  and 
Chinese  relative  P.  crenulata,  all  with  bright  scarlet 
fruits.  In  China  the  various  kinds  of  pheasants  are 
very  partial  to  the  fruits  of  these  shrubs  and  those  in- 
terested in  rearing  these  birds  should  plant  both 
Cotoneaster  and  Pyracantha  as  a  source  of  winter 
food  for  them. 

ORANGE   AND   YELLOW   FRUITS 

Only  a  few  hardy  woody  plants  have  yellow  or 
orange-colored  fruits,  and  a  number  of  these  are  va- 
rieties of  types  with  red  fruits,  some  of  which  men- 
tion has  already  been  made.  Among  the  Bush 
Honeysuckles  are  several  with  yellow  or  pale  orange 
fruits  such  as  Lonicera  Ruprechtiana,  var.  xanthocarpa, 
L.  tatarica,  f.  lutea,  and  L.  minutiflom.  The  last- 
named  is  a  hybrid  between  L.  micrantha  and  L. 
Morrowii  and  with  its  translucent  pale-orange  fruit  is 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  the  genus.  There  is  also 
a  form  of  the  European  Guelder  Rose  (Viburnum 
Opulus,  var.  xanthocarpum)  with  yellow  fruit,  and 


ORNAMENTAL   FRUITED   TREES   AND   SHRUBS       93 

also  a  number  of  species  of  Gooseberry  and  Currant 
(Ribes).  The  American  Persimmon  (Diospyros  vir- 
giniana)  has  orange-colored  fruits  which  become 
blackish  purple  when  dead  ripe. 

But  if  pure  yellow  and  orange  are  rare  colors  among 
fruits  they  are  common  in  combination  with  red  as  in 
plums,  peaches,  apricots,  cherries,  and  other  comes- 
tible fruits.  Of  ornamental  fruited  trees  and  shrubs 
having  fruits  red  and  yellow  in  varying  degrees  and 
shades  the  most  important  are  the  Asiatic  Crabapples. 
However,  as  a  later  chapter  is  devoted  to  these  beauti- 
ful plants  I  refrain  from  entering  into  the  subject 
at  this  time  beyond  remarking  that  in  fruit  they  are 
highly  ornamental  and  that  the  fruits  persist  on  the 
branches  until  spring.  Birds  are  remarkably  fond  of 
these  fruits  and  every  bird  lover  should  contrive  to 
have  a  few  of  these  plants  in  his  (or  her)  garden  or  on 
his  (or  her)  estate. 

BLACK   FRUITS 

This  group  in  size  ranks  next  to  that  of  red  fruits, 
and  in  many  of  its  members  the  fruits  as  they  ripen 
assume  various  shades  of  red  before  becoming  finally 
black.  Among  trees  the  Asiatic  Corktrees  (Phello- 
dendron)  bear  annually  a  wealth  of  shining  black 
fruits.  These  are  quick-growing  medium-sized 


94  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

perfectly  hardy  trees  with  handsome  bark,  spreading 
branches,  and  large  dark  green  pinnate  leaves  and 
they  are  not  subject  to  disease  or  insect  pests.  Five 
species  are  growing  in  the  Arnold  Arboretum:  P. 
sachalinense,  P.  Lauallei,  and  P.  japonicum  from 
northern  Japan,  P.  amurense  from  northeastern  con- 
tinental Asia  and  P.  chinense  from  central  China. 

In  the  Ivy  family,  besides  Kalopanax  ricinifolium 
described  in  Chapter  III,  there  are  many  black- 
fruited  plants  such  as  the  native  Hercules  Club  (Ar- 
alia  spinosa)  and  its  Asiatic  ally  (A.  chinensis),  with 
much  divided  yard-wide  leaves  and  broad  clusters 
of  small  fruits.  Also  Acanthopanax  sessiliflorum  and 
A.  spinosum  which  are  large-growing  shrubs  with 
globose  heads  of  fruit,  native  of  northeastern  Asia, 
and  the  smaller  Chinese  species  A.  Henry i.  All 
these  love  a  cool,  moist  situation.  Most  of  the 
Rhamnus  belong  to  this  group  and  many  of  them 
like  R.  davuricus,  R.  Frangula,  and  the  Common 
Buckthorn  (JR.  catharticus)  fruit  profusely  and  retain 
their  berries  far  into  the  winter.  A  particularly 
handsome  species  is  R.  alpinus  with  large  deep  green 
strongly  veined  leaves  and  which  makes  a  large 
bush. 

The  Canadian  Elderberry  (Sambucus  canadensis), 
so  abundant  in  moist  places  throughout  New  Eng- 


ORNAMENTAL   FRUITED   TREES   AND    SHRUBS       95 

land,  and  its  variety  maxima,  remarkable  for  its 
enormous  flat  masses  of  flowers,  are  very  beautiful 
with  their  lustrous  fruits  and  so  is  S.  pubens  of 
which  there  is  a  variety  (leucocarpa)  with  yellowish 
fruits.  A  number  of  Viburnums,  both  native  and 
exotic,  have  black  fruits  and  many  of  them  are  de- 
sirable shrubs.  Among  the  best  of  the  native 
species  are  V.  pubescens,  the  Arrow-wood  (V.  aceri- 
folium),  and  the  Hobble  Bush  (V.  alnifolium,  often 
called  V.  lantanoides) .  The  last  named  is  a  lovely 
shrub  with  large  leaves  but  unfortunately  it  dislikes 
cultivation  and  the  same  is  true  of  its  close  ally,  V. 
furcatum,  from  northern  Japan.  Of  exotic  species 
perhaps  the  best  in  fruit  is  the  Japanese  V.  Sieboldii, 
a  large  bush  or  slender  tree  thirty  feet  tall,  with  large, 
prominently  nerved  bright  green  leaves  and  large 
pyramidal  clusters  of  jet-black  fruit.  When  it  fruits 
freely  the  popular  V.  tomentosum  (often  called  V. 
plicatum)  from  Japan  is  very  beautiful.  Other  good 
sorts  are  the  European  Wayfaring  Tree  (V.  Lantana), 
its  Chinese  relative  V.  Veitchii,  and  the  evergreen 
V.  rhytidophyllum  with  remarkably  long  wrinkled 
leaves  felted  on  the  underside.  Belonging  to  the  same 
family  are  several  Bush  Honeysuckles  with  lustrous 
black  fruits  of  which  mention  may  be  made  of  the 
European  Lonicera  nigra,  the  Chinese  L.  nervosa, 


96  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

and  L.  involucrata  from  western  North  America.  The 
last  named  has  jet-black  fruit  on  a  fleshy  crimson 
receptacle. 

The  Privets  (Ligustrum)  all  have  black  fruits  and 
the  hardiest  of  all  and  the  most  beautiful  in  fruit  is 
the  European  L.  vulgare,  here  and  there  naturalized 
in  this  section  of  America,  and  its  variety  foliosum. 
These  most  desirable  shrubs  have  large  shining  black 
fruits  in  clusters  and  ought  to  be  generally  planted 
in  the  colder  parts  of  this  country  in  preference  to  their 
less  hardy  Asiatic  relations  which  have  dull-colored 
fruits. 

Many  members  of  the  great  Rose  family  also  be- 
long to  this  group  and  in  fruit  none  is  more  beautiful 
than  the  native  Chokeberry,  (Aronia  melanocarpa,  its 
varieties  grandifolia  and  elata,  and  A.  atropurpurea.) 
Another  species  (A.  arbutifolia)  has  red  fruits. 
Among  the  Cotoneasters  with  black  fruits  are  C.  vul- 
garis,  C.  nitens,  C.  moupinensis,  C.foveolata,  C.  lucida, 
C.  acutifolia,  and  its  variety  villosula,  all  strong  grow- 
ing, free  fruiting  shrubs. 

The  Inkberry  (Ilex  glabrd)  and  its  Japanese  rela- 
tive, I.  crenata,  are  two  valuable  and  hardy  evergreens 
with  small  glossy  leaves  and  stalked  black  fruits. 

Among  Barberries  most  of  the  evergreen  species  such 
as  Berberi's  Julianae,  B.  Sargentiana,  B.  Gagnepainii, 


ORNAMENTAL   FRUITED   TREES   AND   SHRUBS       97 

and  B.  verruculosa  have  black  fruits.  The  first 
named  is  the  best  of  the  upright  growing  species 
of  this  group  hardy  around  Boston,  Mass.,  the 
last  named,  with  prostrate  spreading  branches  and 
small  shining  holly-like  leaves  white  on  the  underside, 
is  a  gem  for  rockeries. 

BLOOMY  BLACK  AND  BLUE  FRUITS 

In  addition  to  the  Blueberries  (Vaccinium)  with 
edible  fruits  quite  a  number  of  the  best  native  shrubs 
have  fruits  blue-black  or  black-purple  and  covered 
with  a  protective  pale  waxy  bloom,  and  many  of  these 
before  attaining  their  final  hue  pass  through  stages  of 
red  and  crimson.  Foremost  in  this  class  rank  such 
Viburnums  as  V.  Canbyi,  V.  dentatum,  V.  pruni- 
folium,  V.  rufidulum,  V.  lentago,  and  V.  cassinoides. 
All  are  handsome  in  flower,  foliage,  and  fruit  and  are 
strong-growing  shrubs  which  cannot  be  too  highly 
praised  for  planting  in  the  parks  and  gardens  of  the 
colder  parts  of  this  country.  In  the  last  named  the 
fruits  change  from  green  to  pure  pink  and  finally 
to  blue-black,  and  it  is  one  of  the  most  lovely  of  all 
shrubs. 

The  pinnate-leaved  Barberries  (Mahonia)  are  a 
charming  group  unfortunately  not  very  hardy.  The 
hardiest  is  the  low-growing  M.  repens  with  grayish 


98  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

green  leaves,  but  the  most  popular  is  M.  Aquifolium 
with  glossy  leaves  which  assume  fine  tints  in  early 
winter;  the  Japanese  M.  japonica  is  the  most  vigorous 
grower  and  has  the  largest  leaves.  All  have  terminal 
bunches  of  beautiful  grape-like  fruits.  The  lovely 
Berberis  stenophylla,  a  hybrid  between  two  South 
American  species,  with  slender  arching  stems  and 
small  dark  green  leaves  and  perhaps  the  finest  of  all  the 
Barberries,  is,  alas!  not  quite  hardy  around  Boston, 
Mass. 

The  blue-fruited  Bush  Honeysuckle  (L.  coerulea) 
with  teat-like  fruits  which  ripen  in  June  is  a  very  val- 
uable shrub.  This  plant  grows  wild  in  various  parts 
of  the  cold  north  temperate  regions  of  both  hemis- 
pheres and  is  very  variable.  The  American  variety 
(villosa)  has  palatable  edible  fruits  but  the  Asiatic 
varieties  altaica  and  graciliflora  with  bitter  fruits  are 
more  ornamental  garden  shrubs. 

The  native  Silky  Cornel  (Cornus  Amomum)  and  its 
close  relative  C.  obliqua  are  large-growing  shrubs  with 
blue  fruits.  A  plant  that  deserves  the  widest  recogni- 
tion is  Symplocos  paniculata  (better  known  as  S.  cratae- 
goides)  with  turquoise-blue  fruits.  This  is  a  large 
bush  or  slender  tree  and  is  very  common  in  Japan, 
Korea,  and  China.  It  is  perfectly  hardy  around  Bos- 
ton, Mass.,  has  good  foliage,  small  clusters  of  white 


ORNAMENTAL  FRUITED  TREES  AND  SHRUBS   99 

flowers  with  conspicuous  stamens,  and  in  the  autumn 
it  fruits  profusely. 

WHITE   FRUITS 

The  most  attractive  memoers  of  this  group  are  the 
native  Snowberry  Bushes  (Symphoricarpos)  and  the 
Dogwoods  or  Cornels  (Cornus).  The  former  are  low 
twiggy  plants  with  small  gray-green  leaves,  insignifi- 
cant pink  flowers,  and  large  snow-white  berries.  The 
best  are  S.  racemosus  and  its  variety  laevigatus,  C.  oreo- 
philus,  C.  occidentalis  from  the  northern  middle 
states,  C.  Heyeri  from  Colorado,  and  S.  mollis  from 
California.  Another  species,  familiarly  known  as  the 
Coralberry  (S.  orbiculatus),  has  red-purple  fruits  and 
is  very  attractive  around  Christmas  time.  Among 
the  best  of  the  white-fruited  Cornels  are  the  native 
Cornus  racemosa  (better  known  as  C.  candidissimd),  a 
twiggy  shrub  of  moderate  size;  C.  circinata  (often 
called  C.  rugosa),  which  is  a  large  bush  or  low  tree  with 
red  foot-stalks  to  the  fruits;  the  hybrid  C.  Arnoldiana, 
which  is  a  fair-sized  shrub;  and  C.  stolonifera,  the  Old 
World  C.  alba  and  C.  sanguinea,  too  well  known  to 
need  description.  A  Bush  Honeysuckle  (Lonicera 
quinquelocularis)  with  white  or  yellowish  translucent 
fruits  in  which  the  black  seeds  are  clearly  visible  is 
also  worthy  of  note. 


100  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

In  the  south  and  in  California  Pernettya  mucronata 
from  the  Magellanic  region  of  South  America,  and  P. 
rupicola  from  Chile  ought  to  be  grown.  These  are 
low-growing  bushy  shrubs  and  of  the  former  there  are 
many  fine  garden  varieties. 


CHAPTER  VI 
THE  GLORY  OF  THE  AUTUMN 

THE  WONDERFUL  COLORING  OF  THE  PASSING  LEAVES, 
AND  WHAT  IT  MEANS 

WHEN  the  beauty  of  the  Aster  displaces  that 
of  the  Goldenrod  in  September;  when  blue 
and  purple  transcend  the  yellow  in  field 
and  border;  the  deep  green  mantle  of  foliage  draping 
hill  and  dale,  mountain  and  ravine,  streamside  and 
roadside,  commences  to  show  signs  of  portentous 
change.  The  Pines,  the  Hemlocks,  and  their  kin  look 
even  darker  as  the  contrast  with  their  deciduous- 
leaved  neighbors  becomes  stronger.  In  the  swamps 
about  the  last  week  of  August  and  at  the  first  whiff  of 
autumn  in  the  air  the  Red  Maple  begins  to  assume 
a  purplish  tint  and  its  example  is  soon  followed  by 
other  kinds  of  trees.  To  all  of  us  the  season  of  the 
year  becomes  apparent,  warning  signs  of  stern  win- 
ter's approach  increase  rapidly  and  soon  the  whole 
country  puts  on  its  gayest  mantle  of  color.  The  peo- 
ples of  the  tropics,  where  monsoon  rains  are  followed 

by  burning  heat  and  where  the  young  unfolding 

101 


102  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

leaves' of  many  forest  trees  are  brightly  colored,  never 
enjoy  the  wonderful  feast  of  color  displayed  in  the 
forests  and  countrysides  of  this  and  other  northern 
continental  areas.  They  have  other  things  of  which 
we  may  envy  them  but  autumn  tints  are  peculiarly 
our  own.  The  brightly  colored  Codiaeums  of  the  trop- 
ics and  our  hot-houses  (where  they  are  erroneously 
called  Crotons),  beautiful  as  they  are,  do  not  equal 
the  Red  Maple,  Sugar  Maple,  Sassafras,  and  Tulip 
Tree  in  the  fall.  No  scene  in  nature  is  more  delight- 
ful than  the  woods  of  eastern  North  America  in  the 
fulness  of  their  autumn  splendor. 

It  is  a  weakness  of  humans  to  crave  most  those 
things  beyond  their  immediate  reach,  but  the  wise 
among  us  are  content  to  enjoy  those  which  fall  within 
the  sphere  of  everyday  life.  To  revel  in  the  splendid 
riot  of  autumn  color  no  long  journey  has  to  be  under- 
taken. It  is  at  our  very  door.  From  the  St.  Law- 
rence Valley  and  the  Canadian  Lakes  southward  to 
the  Alleghany  Mountains  there  is  displayed  each 
autumn  a  scene  of  entrancing  beauty  not  surpassed  the 
world  over.  Central  Europe,  Japan,  China,  and  other 
parts  of  eastern  Asia  have  their  own  season  of  autumn 
color  and  each  area  has  its  individuality  but,  if  they 
rival,  they  cannot  surpass  the  forest  scenes  of  eastern 
North  America. 


THE   GLORY   OF   THE   AUTUMN  103 

But  wherefore  and  why  all  this  gay  autumnal  ap- 
parel? Is  it  the  handiwork  of  the  charming  fairies 
and  wood  nymphs  of  our  childhood  beliefs  and 
nursery  days?  Surely  some  guiding  hand,  some  benefi- 
cent agency,  some  lover  of  mankind  must  have  pre- 
pared the  scene  as  the  final  tableau  of  the  seasons! 
The  talent  of  the  Master  Artist  is  unveiled  and  the 
picture  surpasses  the  dreams  of  those  who  live  in  less- 
favored  areas  of  the  world. 

Those  skilled  in  the  mysteries  of  organic  chemistry 
and  plant  physiology  tell  us  that  autumn  tints  are 
due  to  chemical  changes  associated  with  the  storing 
away  of  food  material  and  the  discharge  of  certain 
waste  products.  This  explanation,  though  matter 
of  fact  and  disturbing  to  our  youthful  belief  in  fairies 
and  wood  nymphs,  opens  up  a  field  of  inquiry  which 
must  tend  to  enlarge  our  viewpoint  and  increase  our 
appreciation  of  Nature's  wonderful  methods.  We 
find  that  all  is  governed  by  laws  which  act  and  react 
in  such  manner  as  to  ensure  the  end  and  object  de- 
sired. 

Now  briefly  the  autumn  metamorphosis  is  effected 
as  follows: 

At  the  approach  of  winter,  leaves  which  cannot 
withstand  frost  cease  their  function  as  food  factories; 
and  the  various  food  substances  are  conveyed  from 


104  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

the  leaf-blade  into  the  woody  branches  or  subter- 
ranean rootstock  and  there  stored,  chiefly  in  the  form 
of  starch,  until  the  season  of  growth  re-commences 
the  following  spring.  The  leaves  from  which  every- 
thing useful  has  been  transported  form  nothing  more 
than  a  framework  of  cell-chambers  containing  merely 
waste  products,  like  crystals  of  calcium  oxalate, 
which  are  thrown  off  with  the  leaves  and  help  to  en- 
rich the  soil.  But  while  the  process  of  food  evacua- 
tion is  going  on  other  changes  take  place.  In  many 
plants  a  chemical  substance  known  technically  as 
anthocyanin  is  produced  in  the  leaves,  and  often  to 
such  an  extent  as  to  become  plainly  visible  on  the 
exterior.  It  appears  red  in  the  presence  of  free  acids 
in  the  cell-sap,  blue  when  no  acids  are  present,  and 
violet  when  the  quantity  of  acids  is  small.  In  a  great 
many  leaves  the  bodies  which  contain  the  green  color- 
ing matter  become  changed  to  yellow  granules  while 
the  evacuation  of  food  substances  is  in  process. 
Sometimes  these  granules  are  very  few  and  antho- 
cyanin is  absent;  then  the  leaf  exhibits  little  outward 
change  except  losing  its  freshness  before  it  falls. 
In  others  the  yellow  granules  are  abundantly  de- 
veloped and  if  anthocyanin  is  absent,  or  nearly  so, 
the  whole  leaf  assumes  a  clear  yellow  hue.  If  there 
is  an  abundance  of  yellow  granules  together  with 


THE   GLORY   OF   THE   AUTUMN  105 

free  acids  and  anthocyanin,  the  leaf  assumes  an  orange 
color.  Thus  the  leaf  at  the  period  of  autumnal 
change,  by  the  presence  of  these  substances  in  a 
greater  or  lesser  degree,  loses  its  green  hue  and  be- 
comes brown  or  yellow,  crimson  or  orange,  purple 
or  red.  The  play  of  color  is  greater  according  to  the 
number  of  species  and  individuals  associated  to- 
gether in  a  particular  spot.  But  the  greatest  display 
of  color  is  seen  when  the  neighborhood  is  sprinkled 
with  plants  having  evergreen  foliage,  when  it  often 
happens  that  a  relatively  small  area  of  woodland 
and  meadow  appears  decked  in  all  the  colors  of 
the  rainbow. 

The  most  casual  observer  knows  that  all  trees 
.and  shrubs  do  not  assume  tinted  foliage  in  autumn. 
Some,  like  the  Alder,  the  Locust  (Robinia),  the  Elder, 
and  most  Willows,  exhibit  little  or  no  change  save 
perhaps  a  number  of  yellow  leaves  scattered  through 
the  green  before  they  fall.  But  this  group  is  rela- 
tively small  and  only  adds  additional  contrast  to  the 
landscape.  Again,  plants  whose  leaves  are  covered 
with  silky  or  woolly  hairs  or  with  a  felted  mat  of 
hairs  never  present  any  autumn  coloring,  and  in 
those  in  which  the  green  color  disappears  the  change 
is  to  pale  gray  and  white. 

In  a  rather  large  group  of  trees,  which  includes 


106  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

the  Walnut,  Butternut,  Catalpa,  Elm,  Hickory, 
Chestnut,  Horsechestnut,  Linden,  Buttontree,  White 
Birch,  and  others,  the  tints  are  a  general  mix- 
ture of  rusty  green  and  yellow  and  under  favor- 
able circumstances  occasionally  pure  yellow.  In  the 
Poplar,  Tulip-tree,  Honey-locust  (Gleditsia),  Mul- 
berry, Maidenhair-tree  (Ginkgo),  Beech,  and  most  of 
the  Birches,  the  leaves  change  to  pure  yellow  of 
different  shades.  In  none  of  the  above-mentioned 
groups  is  purple  or  red  of  any  shade  developed. 

In  favorable  years  the  American  or  White  Ash 
(Fraxinus  americana)  is  unique  in  its  tints,  passing 
through  all  shades  from  a  dark  chocolate  to  violet, 
clear  brown,  and  salmon  but  it  has  no  reds. 

The  Peach,  Plum,  Pear,  Apple,  Quince,  Cherry, 
.Mountain  Ash  (Sorbus),  Hawthorn,  Silver  Maple, 
Wild  Roses,  and  Brambles  (Rubus)  have  a  predomi- 
nance of  green  with  a  slight  or  considerable  admixture 
of  purple,  red,  and  yellow,  and  individuals  are  fre- 
quently strikingly  brilliant.  In  another  group  pur- 
ple, crimson,  and  scarlet  with  only  a  slight  admixture 
of  yellow,  if  any,  obtains.  Here  belong  the  Tupelo, 
Scarlet  Oak,  White  Oak,  Poison  Ivy,  Virginia 
Creeper,  Sumach,  Viburnum,  Sourwood,  Cornel,  Blue- 
berries, and  many  other  plants.  A  final  group, 
to  which  belong  the  Red,  Sugar,  Striped,  and  Moun- 


THE  GLORY  OF  THE  AUTUMN         107 

tain  Maples,  Smoke-tree  (Cotinus),  Poison  Dogwood, 
Sassafras,  and  the  Shadbush  or  Snowy  Mespilus, 
has  variegated  tints  comprising  all  shades  of  purple, 
crimson,  scarlet,  orange,  and  yellow  on  the  same  or 
different  individuals  of  the  same  species.  Often  the 
leaves  are  tinted  and  sometimes  figured  like  the  wings 
of  a  butterfly. 

Careful  observers  will  note  that  the  gradations  of 
autumn  tints  in  all  cases  are  in  order  of  those  of  sun- 
rise, from  darker  to  lighter  hues,  and  never  the  re- 
verse. The  brown  leaves  which  long  persist  on  some 
trees  (Beech,  Chestnut,  and  certain  Oaks  for  example), 
though  darker  than  the  yellow  or  orange  from  which 
they  often  turn,  are  no  exception  since  these  leaves 
are  dead  and  the  brown  is  only  assumed  after  vitality 
has  vanished. 

Some  species  are  perfectly  uniform  in  their  colors; 
others,  on  the  contrary,  display  a  very  wide  range. 
For  example,  the  Maidenhair-tree,  the  Tulip-tree, 
and  Birch  are  invariably  yellow;  the  Virginia  Creeper, 
Sumach,  and  White  Oak  chiefly  red;  while  Maples  are 
of  as  many  colors  as  if  they  were  of  different  species. 
But  each  individual  tree  shows  nearly  the  same  tints 
every  year,  even  as  an  Apple  Tree  bears  fruit  of  the 
same  color  from  year  to  year. 

The  Red  Maple  (Acer  rubrum),  so  abundant  in 


108  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

swamp  and  wood,  roadside  and  on  dry  hilltop,  is  the 
crowning  glory  of  a  New  England  autumn.  By  the 
last  week  of  August  it  commences  to  assume  a  pur- 
plish tint;  sometimes  a  solitary  branch  is  tinted,  fre- 
quently the  coloring  process  begins  at  the  top  of  the 
tree  and  the  purple  crown  of  autumn  is  placed  on  the 
green  brow  of  summer.  Trees  growing  side  by  side 
are  seldom  alike,  and  in  a  group  may  be  seen  almost 
as  many  shades  of  color  as  there  are  trees.  Some 
are  entirely  yellow,  others  scarlet,  some  crimson, 
purple,  or  orange,  others  variegated  with  several  of 
these  colors.  Indeed,  on  different  individuals  in  the 
Red  Maple  may  be  seen  all  the  hues  that  are  ever  dis- 
played in  the  autumn  woods.  The  Sugar  Maple 
(Acer  saccharum),  though  more  brilliant,  has  a  nar- 
rower range  of  color  and  is  more  uniform  in  its  tints 
which  range  from  yellow  and  orange  to  scarlet. 

The  common  Tupelo  (Nyssa  sylvatica)  more  in- 
variably shows  a  mass  of  unmixed  crimson  than  any 
other  New  England  tree.  The  foliage  first  assumes 
shades  of  purple  which  change  into  crimson  or  scarlet 
before  it  falls. 

The  Oaks,  the  noblest  group  of  trees  in  eastern 
North  America,  assume  their  autumn  tints  very  late 
and  are  not  at  their  zenith  until  after  the  Maples  have 
passed.  In  the  Scarlet,  Red,  and  White  Oaks  the  tints 


THE   GLORY   OF  THE   AUTUMN  109 

are  ruddy,  varying  from  reddish  purple  and  crimson 
to  pale  red;  and  when  at  their  best,  after  the  middle  of 
October,  these  trees  are  the  most  beautiful  of  the  for- 
ests or  pastures.  The  Black  and  Swamp  Oaks  de- 
velop imperfect  shades  of  orange  to  leather-colored 
tints. 

In  the  White  Oak,  the  Beech,  the  Chestnut,  and  the 
Red  Oak  when  young  the  leaves  as  they  die  become 
russet-brown  and  remain  on  the  trees  until  the  spring 
and  give  a  sensation  of  warmth  to  the  woods  and  land- 
scape in  the  coldest  days  of  winter.  The  period  of  re- 
tention varies  greatly  in  different  individuals;  often 
the  leaves  are  retained  on  the  lower  branches  when  the 
upper  parts  of  the  tree  are  bare. 

In  England,  trees  with  few  exceptions,  such  as  the  wild 
Cherries  and  the  Beech,  assume  no  autumn  tints  com- 
parable with  those  of  their  North  American  relatives. 
Indeed,  in  England  the  most  varied  and  brightly  col- 
ored tints  are  found  not  on  the  native  trees  but  on  the 
Brambles  (Rubus).  Long  ago  European  trees  were 
planted  in  this  section  of  America  and  some,  like  the 
Elm,  Linden,  and  English  Oak,  have  grown  to  a  large 
or  moderately  large  size.  In  autumn  such  trees  stand 
out  very  clearly  with  their  mantle  of  green  foliage 
when  the  native  trees  present  are  all  tints  or  have 
shed  their  leaves.  These  colonists  preserve  their 


110  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

green  hues  until  late  into  October  when  finally  the 
leaves  become  mottled,  yellowish  or  brownish  and 
fall. 

Asiatic  trees  and  shrubs  cultivated  here  assume 
their  wonted  tints  and  so  also  do  those  of  central 
Europe.  The  trees  of  Japan  and  China  color  with  us 
rather  later  than  the  native  trees  and  lengthen  the 
season  fully  two  weeks. 

Whilst  I  have  dealt  primarily  with  trees  as  the 
principal  objects  of  admiration  in  autumnal  scenery, 
I  must  not  omit  mention  of  the  shrubs  which  clothe 
the  wayside  and  forest  floor,  or  the  climbers  which 
drape  both  bushes  and  trees  or  form  tangled  thickets 
of  themselves.  It  is  true  that  there  are  more  of  these 
than  there  are  of  trees  which  do  not  change  color 
materially  but  remain  green  until  the  fall  of  the  leaves. 
But  a  great  many  do  change  very  materially,  and  it  is 
interesting  to  note  that  reds  predominate  in  the  shrubs 
and  yellows  in  the  trees.  Reds  and  purples  distinguish 
the  Cornels,  Sumachs,  Poison  Ivy,  Viburnums, 
Virginia  Creepers,  Fox  Grape  and  others,  and  yellow 
the  Spicebush.  Indeed,  there  is  so  small  a  propor- 
tion of  yellow  in  the  shrubbery  that  it  is  hardly  dis- 
tinguishable in  the  general  mass  of  scarlet,  crimson, 
and  purple  which  forms  so  marked  a  contrast  with  the 
unchanged  greens  of  many  associate  shrubs.  In  mis- 


THE   GLORY   OF  THE   AUTUMN  111 

cellaneous  mixed  woods,  on  the  contrary,  yellow  pre- 
vails among  trees. 

In  Japan,  where  an  intense  love  of  nature  is 
innate  among  all  classes,  there  prevails  a  custom 
which  might  well  be  adopted  here.  The  beauty  spots 
in  that  land  are  many  and  are  justly  celebrated  in 
poetry  and  song:  august  Fuji  with  its  perfect  cone 
and  snowy  mantle;  the  Pineclad  islets  of  Matsushima; 
the  Inland  Sea  with  its  hundreds  of  islands  clad  with 
verdure  to  the  water's  edge;  the  Nikko  region  with  its 
mountains  and  lakes,  its  waterfalls  and  woods;  and 
hundreds  of  other  places  more  or  less  famous,  includ- 
ing many  noted  for  their  Maples.  In  October,  when 
the  woods  assume  their  autumn  splendor,  children 
from  primary  and  secondary  schools,  high  schools  and 
colleges,  with  their  teachers  and  professors,  make  ex- 
cursions of  three  or  four  days'  duration  to  noted 
places  and  revel  in  the  feast  of  color.  The  railways 
issue  cheap  tickets  and  from  all  the  large  towns  and 
cities  children,  youths,  and  maidens  journey  to  the 
mountain  woods.  Last  autumn  in  the  Nikko  region 
I  saw  thousands  of  scholars — boys  and  girls  varying 
from  eight  to  twenty  years  of  age  (and  a  happy, 
orderly  throng  they  were) — enjoying  to  the  full  the 
scenery,  breathing  in  the  freshest  mountain  air,  and 
building  up  healthy  minds  and  bodies.  Their  joy- 


112  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

ousness  was  wholesomely  infectious  and  it  was  good 
to  mingle  with  them.  As  I  look  back  on  the  many 
pleasant  experiences  I  enjoyed  in  that  pretty  land 
none  gives  me  greater  pleasure  than  the  memories  of 
those  throngs  of  happy  scholars  in  the  woods  and 
woodland  paths  of  Nikko,  Chuzenji,  and  Yumoto. 

Autumn  tints  is  a  subject  that  belongs  more 
especially  to  the  sphere  of  the  artist  than  to  that  of 
the  scientist.  The  poet  can  sing  their  song  more 
easily  than  a  writer  of  prose  can  describe  their  beauty, 
but  on  equal  plane  with  all  the  common  folk  can 
enjoy  the  splendor  of  the  autumn  colors.  Let  us  then 
at  autumn  time  lay  aside  for  a  brief  moment  the  cares 
of  daily  life,  break  away  from  engrossing  tasks  of  every 
kind  and  linger  for  a  while  among  the  trees  and  shrubs 
of  the  roadside  and  woodland,  drink  in  cool  draughts 
of  fresh  air,  and  revel  in  the  galaxy  of  color  that  benefi- 
cent Nature  so  lavishly  displays  on  every  side. 


As  a  lawn  tree  and  for  ornamental  planting  generally  the 

concolor  Fir  is  the  most  beautiful  of  conifers,  retaining  its 

decorative  form  for  very  many  years 


CHAPTER  VII 
THE  BEST  HARDY  CONIFERS 

SOME  PLAIN  FACTS  CONCERNING  CERTAIN  WELL-KNOWN 

TREES  WHICH  EXPERIENCE  PROVES  TO  BE  OVERRATED. 

THE  BEST  FEW  FOR  GENERAL  USE 

CONIFERS  rank  among  the  patriarchs  of  the 
vegetable  kingdom  and  in  their  size,  their 
beauty,  and  their  usefulness  to  man  they  are 
not  surpassed  by  any  other  family  of  trees.  In  a 
general  way  every  one  is  acquainted  with  these  cone- 
bearing  plants  and  they  are  universal  favorites. 
The  family  is  distributed  from  the  Arctic  Circle 
nearly  to  that  of  the  Antarctic,  and  its  members  are 
abundant  in  the  temperate  regions  of  both  Hem- 
ispheres but  they  are  rare  within  the  tropics.  One 
genus  only,  Libocedrus  (Incense  Cedar),  is  common  to 
the  Northern  and  Southern  Hemispheres.  In  longevity 
and  massiveness  of  bulk,  the  Redwoods  of  California 
(Sequoia)  exceed  all  other  trees,  and  in  height  these 
giant  Conifers  are  only  approached  by  the  broad- 
leaved  Blue  Gums  (Eucalyptus)  of  Australia.  With 
exception  of  the  Larch  (Larix),  the  Chinese  Golden 
Larch  (Pseudolarix),  the  Swamp  Cypress  (Taxodium) 

113 


114  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

and  its  Chinese  relative  (Glyptostrobus),  all  Conifers 
are  evergreen;  and  it  is  this  character,  together  with 
their  noble  aspect,  that  makes  them  horticulturally 
of  such  supreme  importance.  No  other  tree  or  shrub 
gives  quite  the  same  effect  or  adds  so  much  restful 
dignity  to  northern  landscapes.  Although  the  fam- 
ily is  so  universally  distributed,  many  of  its  members 
are  fastidious  in  their  requirements  and  only  a  lim- 
ited number  thrive  in  the  rigorous  climate  of  New 
England,  where  hot  dry  summers  and  cold  winters 
are  the  rule  and  where,  in  March,  hot  sun  and  drying 
winds  by  day  are  followed  by  low  temperatures  at 
night.  Such  conditions  are  most  inimical;  neverthe- 
less, the  White  Pine  (Pinus  Strobus)  and  the  Hem- 
lock (Tsuga  canadensis),  two  of  the  handsomest  of 
coniferous  trees,  are  native  of  that  region,  and  where 
these  thrive  the  lovers  of  evergreen  trees  need  not 
lack  material  for  their  plantations. 

In  the  early  days  of  horticulture  in  this  country 
it  was  customary  to  import  from  Europe  nearly 
everything  required — even  trees  and  shrubs  native 
of  this  country.  On  the  whole  this  experiment  has 
not  proved  a  success  and  in  the  matter  of  hardy  trees 
(especially  Conifers)  has  occasioned  much  disap- 
pointment. However,  the  failures  and  successes  of 
the  past  are,  if  rightly  appreciated,  a  wholesome 


THE   BEST   HARDY   CONIFERS  115 

lesson  to  the  present  generation  of  garden  lovers 
since  the  benefits  are  theirs  to  enjoy.  For  the  work 
of  proving  what  trees  and  shrubs,  coniferous  or  other- 
wise, will  thrive  here  we  owe  a  lasting  debt  to  the 
arboreta,  to  the  owners  of  estates,  and  to  the  nur- 
serymen who  have  labored  in  this  field.  Much  re- 
mains to  be  done;  but  enough  has  been  accomplished 
to  enable  us  at  least  to  avoid  some  of  the  mistakes  of 
the  past. 

In  the  Arnold  Arboretum,  Boston,  Mass.,  there  is 
growing  the  largest  collection  of  species  and  varieties 
of  Conifers  to  be  found  anywhere  on  this  continent, 
and  for  more  than  forty  years  the  work  of  getting 
this  collection  together  and  developing  it  has  been 
continuously  maintained.  In  general  it  has  been 
found  that  the  Conifers  of  northeastern  North  Amer- 
ica, the  Rocky  Mountains,  northern,  central,  and 
southeastern  Europe,  Siberia,  northern  China  and 
northern  Japan,  are  hardy;  that  only  a  few  of  the 
species  of  western  North  America  can  be  safely 
planted  here;  and  that  those  of  the  southern  United 
States,  Mexico,,  Central  America,  southern  China, 
Formosa,  the  Himalayas,  southeastern  Asia  and  the 
Southern  Hemisphere  in  total  are  not  hardy  in  New 
England.  Furthermore,  not  all  the  varieties  that  are 
hardy  thrive  equally  well,  and  many  cannot  with  con- 


116  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

fidence  be  recommended  for  purposes  of  general  land- 
scape planting.  The  more  ornamental  of  those  which 
the  experience  of  the  Arnold  Arboretum  has  proven  to 
be  adapted  to  this  climate  I  now  propose  cursorily  to 
mention. 

As  a  lawn  tree  and  for  ornamental  planting  gener- 
ally, the  best  Fir  and  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  all 
Conifers  is  Abies  concolor,  native  of  the  southern 
Rockies  from  Pike's  Peak  in  Colorado  to  the  Shasta 
Mountains  in  California  where  it  grows  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  feet  tall.  The  Colorado  form  in 
particular  is  very  hardy,  though  rarely  found  ex- 
ceeding one  hundred  feet  in  height.  It  is  a  tree 
of  moderately  rapid  growth,  with  leaves  pale  gray- 
green  on  both  surfaces  and  flat-spreading  branches  in 
tabuliform  tiers  close  set  one  above  the  other,  grad- 
ually diminishing  in  length  from  the  base  to  the 
summit.  The  outline  is  conical  and  the  branches 
are  long  retained,  and  on  trees  forty  years  of  age 
sweep  the  ground  and  promise  to  do  so  for  many 
years  to  come. 

A  worthy  companion  to  A.  concolor  is  the  Japanese 
A.  homolepiSy  or  A.  brachyphylla  as  it  is  more  usually 
called.  In  Japan  this  tree  grows  one  hundred  feet  tall 
and  has  massive  branches  which  form  a  broad  flattened 
or  rounded  head,  and  such  trees  in  aspect  resemble  old 


THE   BEST   HARDY   CONIFERS  117 

specimens  of  the  Cedar  of  Lebanon.  Young  trees  in 
habit  resemble  those  of  A.  concolor,  but  the  branches 
are  more  narrow  and  tapering  and  rather  less  densely 
arranged.  The  leaves  are  grass-green  above  and 
silvery  white  below.  These  two  Firs  are  excellent 
companions,  forming  a  striking  contrast  in  foliage, 
and  to  admit  of  their  full  development  they  should 
be  allowed  a  radius  of  not  less  than  twenty-five 
feet. 

In  New  England  Abies  cilicica  from  the  mountains 
of  Asia  Minor,  A.  Nordmanniana  from  the  Caucasus, 
and  A.  cephalonica  from  Mount  Enos  in  the  Grecian 
Archipelago  are  of  about  the  same  value.  Seldom  do 
they  thrive  equally  well  in  the  same  locality,  one  or 
other  usually  having  the  advantage.  In  Great 
Britain  the  Cilician  Fir  thrives,  but  is  rare,  whereas  the 
Nordmann  Fir  is  unsatisfactory  as  it  grows  old.  In 
appearance  these  handsome  Firs  are  very  similar, 
being  narrow  conical  in  outline  with  rigid,  horizontally 
spreading  pointed  branches  and  leaves  dark  glossy 
green  above  and  silvery  white  beneath. 

Another  Fir  which  thrives  very  well  here  is  Veitch's 
(A.  Veitchii),  native  of  the  mountains  of  central  Japan. 
In  a  wild  state  this  is  a  slender  tree  seldom  exceeding 
seventy-five  feet  in  height,  with  thin,  short,  spreading 
branches  which  form  a  narrow  crown.  In  cultivation 


118  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

the  branches  are  longer  than  in  the  wild  trees  and 
often  slightly  ascending.  The  leaves  are  soft  to  the 
touch,  dark  green  above  and  silvery  below. 

The  Firs  delight  in  a  cool  soil  and  climate,  but  some, 
like  A.  concolor,  are  not  exacting  and  withstand 
drought  and  dry  situations  very  well.  All  are  in- 
tolerant of  smoke  and  soot  and  for  this  reason  do  not 
thrive  in  cities  or  near  manufacturing  centres.  These 
remarks  apply  also  to  the  Spruces,  although  they  are 
slightly  less  exacting  in  these  matters. 

The  Douglas  Fir  (Pseudotsuga  taxi/olid)  is  one  of  the 
loftiest  and  most  valuable  of  all  coniferous  trees  and, 
from  a  horticultural  viewpoint,  one  of  the  most  in- 
dispensable. It  has  an  immense  range  of  distribution 
in  the  western  parts  of  North  America  and  attains  its 
maximum  development  in  the  wet  regions  bordering 
the  Puget  Sound  and  on  the  western  slopes  of  the  Sierra 
Nevada,  where  trees  three  hundred  feet  tall  with  trunks 
nine  to  twelve  feet  in  diameter  occur.  This  tree  was 
discovered  on  the  shores  of  the  Nootka  Sound  by 
Archibald  Menzies  in  1792,  during  Vancouver's  voy- 
age round  the  world,  was  rediscovered  by  David 
Douglas  in  1827,  and  introduced  into  England  by  him 
the  following  year.  In  the  mild,  moist  climate  of 
Great  Britain  this  tree  of  the  Pacific  slope  soon  made 
itself  at  home  and  in  most  parts  of  that  land  it  grows 


THE   BEST   HARDY   CONIFERS  119 

rapidly.  From  Britain  it  was  introduced  into  eastern 
North  America,  but  in  the  colder  parts  of  this  country 
it  proved  to  be  not  hardy.  In  1862,  it  was  most  for- 
tunately discovered  at  high  elevations  in  Colorado, 
and  seeds  from  this  source  have  given  us  a  race  of 
perfectly  hardy  and  quick-growing  trees.  In  the 
Arnold  Arboretum  trees  forty  years  of  age  are  fifty  feet 
and  more  tall,  and  others  about  fifteen  years  old  are 
eighteen  to  twenty-five  feet  tall.  The  lower  branches 
of  these  trees  sweep  the  ground  and  the  others  are  in- 
clined upward  and  have  a  plume-like  appearance. 
The  leaves  vary  from  dark  green  to  glaucous. 

The  uninitiated  may  distinguish  this  tree  from  all 
other  Conifers  by  its  relatively  long,  conical,  sharp- 
pointed  winter  buds.  Either  as  a  lawn  tree,  or  for 
avenues,  or  for  massing,  Douglas  Fir  is  equally  valu- 
uable  and  it  needs  no  recommendation. 

Perhaps  no  Conifer  has  been  received  into  popular 
favor  more  readily  than  the  Colorado  Blue  Spruce 
(Picea  pungens),  and  certainly  none  has  been  more 
extensively  planted.  Lately  there  has  been  some  out- 
cry against  it,  but  as  a  young  tree  it  is  undeniably 
beautiful.  It  has  taken  very  kindly  to  cultivation 
and  is  very  hardy.  One  cannot  object  to  it  on  the 
lawns  of  suburban  gardens  or  even  on  those  of  country 
estates;  but  the  indiscriminate  manner  in  which  it  has 


120  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

been  planted  by  the  carload  in  groups  and  rows  on 
large  estates  is  certainly  an  offense  against  good  taste. 
This  Blue  Spruce  grows  fairly  rapidly  and  when  young 
is  compact,  symmetrical,  and  handsome;  but  at  an 
early  age  it  loses  its  lower  branches  and  later  becomes 
unsightly.  In  the  Arnold  Arboretum  there  is  growing 
a  tree  raised  from  seeds  collected  by  Dr.  Parry  when 
he  discovered  this  Spruce  in  1862.  This  example  has 
lost  all  its  lower  limbs  and  has  now  only  a  cluster  of 
branches  near  the  top  and  is  very  far  from  being  an 
object  of  beauty.  Authorities  who  have  seen  this 
Blue  Spruce  growing  wild  near  the  banks  of  streams  in 
Colorado  tell  us  that  it  naturally  behaves  in  this  man- 
ner. Those  contemplating  planting  this  tree  for  per- 
manent effect  will  do  well  to  bear  these  facts  in 
mind. 

Another  tree  that  has  been  very  extensively 
planted  is  the  Norway  Spruce  (P.  Abies  or  P.  ex- 
celsd).  This  has  proved  both  accommodating  and 
quick  growing,  but  in  New  England,  where  exposed 
to  the  winds,  the  tops  of  the  trees  become  thin  and 
bare.  Most  of  the  older  trees  exhibit  this  failing 
and  there  seems  little  likelihood  of  it  being  a  long- 
lived  subject  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  How- 
ever, up  to  thirty  or  forty  years  of  age  it  thrives. 
The  branches  are  wide-spreading,  with  the  lower 


THE   BEST  HARDY   CONIFERS  121 

ones  bending  downward  and  sweeping  the  ground 
and  the  uppermost  slightly  inclined  upward,  and 
all  have  pendent,  whip-like  branchlets.  The  leaves 
are  dark  green  and  the  aspect  of  the  tree,  though 
decidedly  sombre,  is  graceful. 

For  the  colder  parts  of  this  country  one  of  the 
best  of  all  Spruces  is  the  Canadian  or  White  Spruce 
(P.  canadensis).  This  is  one  of  the  hardiest  of  all 
trees  and  is  useful  in  ornamental  and  landscape 
planting  generally,  but  is  especially  so  in  situations 
where  other  and  less  hardy  coniferous  trees  will  not 
grow.  It  is  a  rather  small  tree  and  in  the  open  it  is 
conical  in  outline  and  well  furnished  with  branches 
from  the  ground  upward.  The  leaves  are  short, 
green,  and  slightly  glaucous. 

Another  valuable  species  is  Engelmann's  Spruce 
(P.  Engelmannii),  which  hails  from  Colorado  and 
has  somewhat  the  appearance  of  the  common  Blue 
Spruce  but  the  branches  are  shorter  and  flatter  and 
the  leaves  smaller  and  less  glaucous.  Specimens  in 
the  Arnold  Arboretum  thirty-five  years  old  are  nar- 
row, compact,  symmetrical  pyramids,  but  unfortu- 
nately they  are  beginning  to  lose  their  lower  branches. 
The  Serbian  Spruce  (P.  omorikd),  which  was  dis- 
covered only  in  1872,  has  taken  kindly  to  cultivation 
here  and  elsewhere.  It  grows  rapidly  and  the  habit 


122  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE   GARDEN 

is  pleasing;  but,  unfortunately,  it  is  addicted  to 
borers.  The  leaves  are  flat,  lustrous  green  above 
and  white  beneath. 

Lastly,  mention  must  be  made  of  the  Oriental 
Spruce  (P.  orientalis)  which  is  native  of  the  Cau- 
casus and  does  very  well  in  many  parts  of  this 
seaboard.  It  is  a  tree  of  medium  size  with  hori- 
zontal spreading  branches,  the  uppermost  being 
slightly  ascending.  The  outline  is  pyramidal,  broken 
by  projecting  branches.  The  leaves  at  maturity  are 
dark  lustrous  green.  In  spring  the  young  shoots 
are  bright  yellow  and,  as  they  lengthen,  the  leaves 
become  a  soft  delicate  green,  forming  a  beautiful  con- 
trast to  the  rich  coloring  of  the  mature  foliage. 

In  this  climate  most  of  the  Spruces  have  weak 
points,  a  great  many  of  them  lose  their  lower  branches 
at  a  comparatively  early  age,  and  a  number  of  them 
suffer  from  gall-insects.  On  the  whole,  they  are  less 
satisfactory  for  ornamental  planting  than  their  close 
allies  the  Firs. 

The  common  Hemlock  (Tsuga  canadensis)  is  cer- 
tainly one  of  the  finest  Conifers  for  general  plant- 
ing. There  are  several  varieties;  the  best  of  these 
are  Sargentiana,  which  forms  a  remarkable  dense 
flat-topped  bush  with  pendent  branches  and  branch- 
lets;  compacta,  a  densely  branched  bush,  ovoid  in 


THE   BEST   HARDY   CONIFERS  123 

outline;  microphylla,  with  loose  ascending  branches; 
and  pendula,  with  dense  spreading  branches  pendent 
at  the  extremities. 

The  Carolina  Hemlock  (T.  caroliniand)  is  native 
of  the  Blue  Ridge  Mountains  of  north  and  south 
Carolina,  and  of  the  southern  Alleghanies  where  it 
was  discovered  in  1850,  by  Professor  L.  R.  Gibbes. 
It  was  introduced  into  the  Arnold  Arboretum  in 
1881,  where  it  grows  freely  and  gives  every  promise 
of  being  a  most  desirable  and  ornamental  Conifer. 
It  is  a  smaller  but  a  more  graceful  and  beautiful 
tree  than  its  northern  confrere. 

No  trees  make  a  better  windbreak  than  do  the 
Pines,  and  on  lawns  and  for  avenues  they  are  most 
effective.  The  native  White  Pine  (Pinus  Strobus) 
is  one  of  the  noblest  of  all  Pines  and  needs  neither 
introduction  nor  eulogy  here.  Its  confrere,  P.  mon- 
ticola  from  western  North  America,  is  also  perfectly 
hardy  and  grows  freely  in  this  climate.  So  also  does  the 
Foxtail  Pine  (P.flexilis),  native  of  Montana,  Nevada 
and  other  parts  of  western  North  America.  The 
White  Pine  of  the  Balkan  Peninsula  (P.  peuke), 
which  was  discovered  in  1839  but  was  not  introduced 
until  1864,  is  also  quite  hardy  and  grows  well  in  this 
country.  It  forms  a  narrow  pyramidal  tree  densely 
branched  and  heavily  clothed  with  bright  green  leaves. 


124  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

Another  very  satisfactory  hardy  and  highly  orna- 
mental tree  is  the  Japanese  White  Pine  (P.  parviflora). 
This  species  is  widely  spread  in  Japan  where  it  grows 
naturally  in  steep,  rocky  country.  It  is  also  a  favor- 
ite tree  in  Japanese  gardens,  where  it  is  kept  dwarf 
and  trimmed  and  is  also  often  trained  into  grotesque 
shapes.  The  Japanese  graft  this  tree  on  their  Black 
Pine  (P.  Thunbergii),  whose  remote  relationship  un- 
doubtedly aids  in  checking  the  growth  of  its  leaves 
and  branches.  Under  cultivation  in  New  England 
seedling  trees  and  others  grafted  on  the  native  White 
Pine  are  densely  branched,  and  the  branches  are 
very  long,  horizontally  spreading,  slightly  upturned 
at  the  ends  and  abundantly  clothed  with  gray-green 
leaves.  Its  habit  is  different  from  that  of  any  other 
Pine. 

The  Korean  Nut  Pine  (P.  koraiensis)  also  grows 
well  and  promises  to  be  a  more  satisfactory  tree  here 
than  its  ally,  the  Swiss  P.  cembra. 

The  Scots  Pine  (P.  sylvestris)  and  the  Austrian 
Pine  (P.  nigra)  in  the  past  have  been  extensively 
planted  in  this  country.  The  former  has,  unfort- 
unately, proved  unsatisfactory  and  the  Austrian 
Pine  is  inferior  to  the  native  Red  Pine  (P.  resinosd). 
The  latter  is  one  of  the  best  of  all  Pines  in  this  climate, 
where  it  ranks  among  the  first  half  dozen  of  all  Coni- 


THE   BEST   HARDY   CONIFERS  125 

fers  and  where  it  ought  to  be  planted  in  preference  to 
any  of  its  relatives.  It  grows  rapidly  and  in  effect  is 
dark  and  massive. 

The  Jack  Pine  (P.  Banksiana)  and  the  Scrub  Pine 
(P.  virginiana)  are  low-growing  species  very  satis- 
factory in  cold  regions.  For  sea-shore  planting  the 
Japanese  Black  Pine  (P.  Thunbergii)  is  to  be  recom- 
mended. This  Pine  is  very  variable  in  habit  and 
naturally  assumes  weird  and  picturesque  shapes. 
It  is  the  Pine  so  commonly  depicted  on  Japanese  em- 
broideries, paintings,  porcelains  and  other  objects  of 
Japanese  art. 

Those  familiar  with  gardens  in  England  and 
other  countries  of  Europe  will  have  noted,  probably 
with  envy,  the  majestic  Cedars  of  Lebanon  (Cedrus 
libani).  No  tree  is  more  impressive  in  appearance 
and  no  other  gives  quite  the  same  effect  as  this 
Cedar  with  its  thick  trunk,  massive  spreading  and 
flattened  or  tabular  branches,  and  deep  green  foliage. 
The  originals  of  these  trees  were  brought  from  the 
famous  groves  on  Mt.  Lebanon  in  Syria,  and  the 
oldest  in  England  were  planted  between  1662  and 
1670.  The  younger  trees  and  those  offered  for  sale 
by  European  nurserymen  are  descendants  of  these 
original  introductions.  Unfortunately,  this  Cedar  is 
not  hardy  in  New  England  but  occasional  trees  may 


126  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

be  seen  growing  in  the  neighborhood  of  New  York 
City  and  Philadelphia. 

The  Cedar  of  Lebanon  grows  also  on  the  Anti- 
Taurus  Mountains  in  Asia  Minor,  a  region  more 
northern  and  colder  than  that  of  the  Lebanon 
Mountains;  and  in  1901,  the  Director  of  the  Arnold 
Arboretum  had  seeds  collected  there  and  these 
were  sown  in  1902.  None  of  the  plants  raised 
from  these  seeds,  although  planted  in  exposed  situa- 
tions, has  ever  suffered  and  some  of  them  are  now 
from  eighteen  to  twenty  feet  tall.  The  experiment 
promises  complete  success  and  there  seems  every 
possibility  of  our  enjoying  a  thriving  race  of  Cedar 
of  Lebanon  which  will  withstand  the  winter  frosts 
and  summer  droughts  of  New  England.  If  this  be 
consummated  the  boon  conferred  on  our  parks  and 
gardens  will  be  inestimable. 

Neither  the  Atlas  Cedar  (C.  atlanticd)  nor  the 
Deodar  (C.  deodara)  is  quite  hardy  in  New  England. 

The  Japanese  Umbrella  Pine  (Sciadopitys  verti- 
cillata),  with  long,  dark  glossy  green  leaves  arranged 
in  whorls,  is  perhaps  the  most  distinct  of  all  Conifers. 
It  is  perfectly  hardy  and  delights  in  a  cool,  moist 
situation.  Young  trees  vary  from  narrowly  to 
broadly  conical  in  outline  and  are  strikingly  beautiful. 
In  Japan  this  tree  has  a  rather  limited  distribution 


THE    BEST   HARDY    CONIFERS  127 

and  grows  on  rocky  slopes  mixed  with  Chamaecy- 
paris  obtusa  (Retinispora)  and  other  Conifers,  and 
its  narrow,  plume-like  crown  is  thrust  well  above  its 
neighbors. 

Under  the  popular  but  misleading  name  of  Cedar, 
and  to  which  the  better  name  of  Arborvitae  should 
be  applied,  are  grouped  a  number  of  valuable  and 
decorative  Conifers  all  of  which  are  much  alike  when 
young.  In  this  stage  they  are  either  spire-like,  col- 
umnar, conical  or  narrow  pyramidal  in  outline  and 
have  dense  scale-like  foliage  of  varying  hues  of  green. 
Generally  they  are  regarded  as  shrubs,  but  it  is  well 
to  remember  that  some  of  them  rank  among  the 
largest  and  most  valuable  of  forest  trees.  For  ex- 
ample: the  Giant  Arborvitae  (Thuja  plicata  or  T. 
gigantea  as  it  is  often  called)  of  western  North  Amer- 
ica, in  the  valley  of  the  Columbia  River  grows  200 
feet  tall  and  has  a  trunk  clean  of  branches  for  fully 
100  feet.  The  story  of  this  tree  parallels  that  of 
the  Douglas  Fir.  It  was  first  discovered  on  the 
shores  of  Nootka  Sound  by  Nee,  who  accompanied 
Malaspina  on  his  voyage  round  the  world  (1789-94) 
but  it  was  not  introduced  until  1853,  when  William 
Lobb  sent  seeds  to  Messrs.  Veitch,  at  Exeter,  Eng- 
land. Plants  from  this  source  were  afterward  brought 
to  eastern  North  America  but  none  proved  capable 


128  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

of  withstanding  the  New  England  winters.  Sub- 
sequently this  tree  was  discovered  in  Idaho.  Seeds 
obtained  from  that  state  have  furnished  us  with  a 
perfectly  hardy  race,  which  grows  freely  and  possesses 
all  the  good  qualities  of  an  Arborvitae.  The  branches 
are  close  set,  spreading  and  much  ramified  at  the 
distal  end;  the  branchlets  are  slender,  often  zig- 
zag or  curved,  and  the  densely  appressed  leaves  are 
yellowish  green  on  the  exposed  side  and  much  darker 
on  the  other. 

The  native  Arborvitae  or  White  Cedar  (T.  occiden- 
talis)  is  a  rather  small  tree  seldom  exceeding  sixty  feet 
in  height  and  is  usually  only  from  thirty  to  forty  feet. 
The  outline  is  narrow  conical  or  columnar,  and  the 
foliage  light  to  dull  green.  This  tree  is  very  hardy, 
and  under  cultivation  a  great  many  distinct  forms 
have  originated,  some  with  yellow  and  others  with 
white  variegation,  and  a  number  are  low  growing 
and  most  compact  in  habit.  The  dwarf  forms 
will  be  dealt  with  later,  but  it  may  be  stated  here 
that  the  forms  of  this  tree  afford  the  greatest  variety 
of  hardy  Arborvitae  that  we  possess. 

Among  the  taller-growing  kinds  worthy  of  at- 
tention are:  Vervaeneana,  a  smaller  and  denser  tree 
than  the  type,  with  young  branchlets  deep  golden 
yellow,  changing  in  winter  to  brownish  orange  and 


THE   BEST   HARDY   CONIFERS  129 

finally  to  green;  Wareana,  denser  in  habit  with  foli- 
age of  a  deeper  and  brighter  green  than  the  type; 
Wareana  aurea,  with  bright  golden-yellow  branchlets 
during  the  growing  season;  plicata,  with  short 
branches  and  rigid,  erect  branchlets  and  brownish 
green  foliage,  and  its  forms  argenteo-  and  aureo- 
variegata  with  silver  and  yellow  branchlets;  lutea, 
which  is  pyramidal  and  columnar  in  habit  with 
bright  yellow  and  orange-yellow  young  branchlets; 
and  pendula,  with  rather  slender  branches  bending 
downward,  tufted  branchlets  and  green  foliage. 

The  Chinese  Arborvitae  (Thuja  orientalis),  which  is 
a  small  tree  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  feet  tall  and  col- 
umnar or  pyramidal  in  outline,  is  not  hardy  in  New 
England.  It  has  been  in  cultivation  in  Europe  since 
1752,  and  has  given  rise  to  many  forms  which  re- 
semble but  are  not  superior  to  those  of  the  native 
Arborvitae  (T.  occidentalis). 

Another  Arborvitae  (Chamaecyparis  thyoides),  na- 
tive of  the  swamps  from  Maine  southward  to  north- 
ern Florida,  is  very  hardy  and  worthy  of  recognition. 
It  is  a  slender  tree  from  sixty  to  eighty  feet  tall,  with 
short,  thin,  spreading  branches  which  form  a  spire-like 
crown,  and  very  small  scale-like,  imbricated  dull 
bluish  green  leaves,  which  turn  rusty  brown  in  winter. 

Of  late  years  the  so-called  dwarf  trees  of  Japan  have 


130  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE   GARDEN 

attained  wide  popularity  both  in  this  country  and  in 
Europe.  One  of  the  commonest  of  these  is  an  Arbor- 
vitae,  usually  known  as  Retinispora  obtusa  nana  and 
correctly  as  Chamaecyparis  obtusa,  var.  nana.  These 
dwarfed  trees  are  the  outcome  of  Japanese  gardeners' 
skill  and  this  variety  is  of  garden  origin;  but  the  type 
(C.  obtusa)  is  one  of  the  loftiest  and  most  valuable  of 
Japanese  forest  trees.  At  maturity  it  is  one  hundred 
and  fifty  feet  and  more  tall,  with  a  large  clean  trunk  and 
wide-spreading  branches  forming  a  rounded  or  flat- 
tened crown;  but  in  a  young  state  the  branches  are 
slender  and  flat  and  spread  horizontally;  the  outline 
is  narrow  pyramidal  and  the  effect  light  and  graceful. 
The  leaves  are  dark  green.  This  beautiful  Conifer  is 
perfectly  hardy  in  New  England  and  nurserymen 
would  do  well  to  procure  a  stock  of  seeds  and  raise  it 
in  quantity.  In  Japan  it  is  very  extensively  used  for 
reafforestation.  Its  close  ally  (C.  pisifera)  is  equally 
hardy  and,  when  young,  very  distinct  with  its  ascend- 
ing-spreading, rather  plumose  branches.  At  matuEJty, 
however,  it  is  not  easily  distinguished  from  C.  obtusa, 
which  it  equals  in  size  and  approximates  in  the  value 
of  its  timber. 

Like  other  Arborvitaes  the  Japanese  kinds  have 
given  rise  to  numerous  forms  variegated  and  other- 
wise. Those  of  C.  obtusa  are  all  low-growing,  but 


THE   BEST   HARDY   CONIFERS  131 

most  of  those  of  C.  pisifera  grow  tall.  Among  the 
best  of  these  are:  aurea,  in  which  the  whole  of  the 
current  season's  growth  is  rich  golden  yellow  and 
changes  to  green  the  following  year;  sulphured,  simi- 
lar but  of  a  paler  hue;  plumosa,  very  dense  in  habit 
and  strictly  conical  in  outline  and  with  dark  green 
leaves;  plumosa  albo-picta  has  the  tips  of  the  branch- 
lets  creamy  white;  in  plumosa  argentea  nearly  the 
whole  of  the  young  growths  are  creamy  white  and  be- 
come green  the  following  year;  in  plumosa  aurea  they 
are  light  golden  yellow  changing  as  the  season  ad- 
vances to  deep  green;  squarrosa  is  irregular  in  outline, 
densely  and  intricately  branched,  and  has  short, 
pointed,  pale  bluish  green  leaves. 

Thus  far  I  have  dealt  only  with  tall-growing  Coni- 
fers but  in  gardens  large  and  small  there  is  a  demand 
for  low-growing  sorts  and  particularly  since  there  are 
so  very  few  broad-leaved  evergreens  hardy  in  this 
climate.  Fortunately,  among  Conifers  there  are 
dwarfs  in  great  variety,  some  of  them  sports  from  free 
forms  and  others  good  species.  Of  the  White  Pine 
(Pinus  Strobus)  there  is  a  variety  (nand)  which  is  a 
small,  compact,  roundish,  bushy  shrub  with  short 
slender  branches  and  leaves  shorter  than  in  the  type. 

10  A 

The  common  and  variable  Mountain  Pine  of  the  Alps 
and  other  parts  of  Europe  (P.  montana,  often  known 


132  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

as  P.  pumilio  or  P.  mughus)  is  well  known  and  highly 
esteemed;  but  the  Japanese  Table  Pine  (P.  densiflora, 
var.  umbraculiferd)  deserves  wider  recognition  for  it  is 
one  of  the  best  of  the  low-growing  Pines.  This  is  a 
round  or  broadly  oval  bush  with  thin  branches  and 
gray-green  leaves  and  is  common  in  gardens  in  Japan, 
where  it  is  known  as  Tanyosho.  Another,  and  dwarf er 
form,  is  known  as  Bandaisho. 

Among  Spruces,  perhaps  the  best  dwarf  is  Picea 
Abies,  var.  Clanbrassiliana,  a  low-growing,  dense  and 
compact  shrub  with  bright  green  leaves.  Another 
good  variety  of  this  Spruce  is  Gregoryana,  which  seldom 
grows  more  than  one  to  two  feet  high  and  is  very  dense 
in  habit.  Other  good  sorts  are  nana,  Elwangeri, 
pumila,  and  procumbens.  Of  the  common  Blue 
Spruce  (P.  pungens)  there  is  a  dwarf  variety  which 
makes  a  round-headed  bush. 

The  greatest  variety  in  dwarf  or  low-growing  Coni- 
fers is  found  among  the  Junipers  and  the  Arborvitaes. 
Among  Junipers  which  make  an  excellent  ground 
cover  are  J.  chinensis,  var.  Sargentii  and  J.  procumbens 
from  Japan,  J.  squamata  from  China,  and  J.  hori- 
zontalis  common  near  the  sea  in  parts  of  Maine 
and  elsewhere  and  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  all 
with  its  blue-green  foliage  and  charming  habit.  As 
bushes,  distinct  and  attractive  in  habit,  J.  chinensis, 


THE   BEST   HARDY   CONIFERS  133 

var.  Pfitzeriana  with  bluish  green  foliage  and  J. 
virginiana,  var.  tripartita  have  much  to  recommend 
them. 

Among  the  dwarf  forms  of  the  Japanese  Arborvitae 
(commonly  called  Retinispora)  the  best  are  Cham- 
aecyparis  pisifera,  var.  filifera,  with  thread-like  pen- 
dent branchlets,  and  its  golden  form  aurea;  Chamaecy- 
paris  obtusa,  var.  gracilis;  the  var.  nana,  one  of  the 
handsomest  of  all,  and  its  form  aurea.  The  variety 
leptoclada  of  the  native  Chamaecyparis  thyoides  is  a 
pleasing  shrub  but  the  majority  of  our  dwarf  Arbor- 
vitae are  forms  of  the  native  Thuja  occidentalis. 
Among  the  best  of  these  are  umbraculifera,  recurva 
nana,  Tom  Thumb,  Woodwardii,  Reedii  and  Little  Gem, 
the  last  named  perhaps  the  finest  of  them  all. 

The  Junipers  are  usually  regarded  as  shrubs  of  low 
growth  but  some  are  trees  of  some  magnitude,  though 
only  two  or  three  of  these  are  hardy  here.  The  com- 
mon Red  Cedar  (Juniperus  virginiana),  so  character- 
istic of  open  landscapes  in  eastern  North  America, 
needs  no  introduction.  When  young  it  is  usually  col- 
umnar in  outline;  the  leaves  vary  from  green  to 
glaucous  and  there  are  numerous  varieties,  some  of 
them  variegated. 

The  Chinese  Juniper  (J.  chinensis)  is  a  tree  from  fifty 
to  sixty  feet  tall  at  maturity,  when  it  is  broadly  pyra- 


134  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

midal  in  outline  and  very  densely  branched.  When 
young  it  varies  from  columnar  to  conical.  It  is  per- 
fectly hardy  and  may  be  recognized  by  the  branchlets 
bearing  two  forms  of  leaves.  Another  valuable 
Juniper  is  J.  rigida  from  Mandshuria,  Korea,  and 
Japan.  This  has  long,  needle-shaped,  pungent  leaves, 
spreading  or  pendent  branchlets,  and  is  columnar  or 
narrow  conical  in  outline.  Very  similar  to  the  last 
named  is  the  tree  form  of  the  Common  Juniper  (J. 
communis)  and  its  variety  oblonga,  with  rather  pen- 
dulous branchlets.  Junipers  often  suffer  from  attacks 
of  red  spider  and  should  be  sprayed  occasionally  with 
some  antidote. 

The  Larches  are  valuable  timber  trees  and  all  have 
deciduous  leaves,  which  as  they  unfold  in  the  spring, 
are  a  peculiarly  vivid  green.  The  native  Tamarack 
or  Hackmatack  (L.  laricind),  although  a  denizen 
of  swamps,  also  grows  well  on  dry  hillsides.  The 
European  Larir.  decidua  and  the  Japanese  L.Kaempferi 
have  also  proved  adaptable  to  this  climate. 

A  tree  deserving  of  wider  recognition  in  this  country 
is  the  Chinese  Golden  Larch  (Pseudolarix  Kaempferi). 
It  is  perfectly  hardy  and  very  ornamental  and  in  every 
way  a  most  suitable  subject  for  lawns  and  parks.  The 
branches  are  long  and  spread  horizontally;  the  rela- 
tively long,  pea-green  leaves  are  deciduous  and  assume 


THE   BEST   HARDY   CONIFERS  135 

in  the  fall  clear  yellow  tints.  In  the  Hunnewell 
Pinetum  at  Wellesley,  Mass.,  there  is  growing  a  par- 
ticularly fine  specimen  which  has  ripened  perfect 
seeds.  This  tree  is  a  native  of  eastern  China  south  of 
the  Yangtsze  River  but  very  little  is  known  concerning 
its  appearance  in  a  wild  state,  notwithstanding  the 
fact  that  it  has  been  known  since  1804. 

Although  properly  speaking  not  Conifers,  the 
Maidenhair-tree  (Ginkgo  biloba),  the  Yews  (Taxus), 
and  their  allies  are  usually  associated  with  that  family 
in  the  popular  mind  and  for  horticultural  purposes 
may  be  so  considered.  In  some  respects  the  Ginkgo 
is  the  most  interesting  of  living  trees  since  it  is  a  relic 
of  an  ancient  flora  which  flourished  during  the 
Mesozoic  Age.  Fossil  remains,  apparently  identical 
with  the  living  tree,  have  been  found  in  western  North 
America,  in  Greenland,  in  the  London  clays  of  Eng- 
land, and  elsewhere.  At  one  time  it  was  probably 
common  in  north  temperate  lands  of  both  Old  and  New 
Worlds  but  to-day  it  no  longer  exists  in  a  wild  state 
and  we  owe  its  preservation  to  the  religious  sanctu- 
aries of  China  and  Japan.  It  is  a  very  hardy,  quick- 
growing,  long-lived  tree,  attaining  a  height  of  one  hun- 
dred feet  with  a  trunk  twenty  feet  in  girth  and  thrives 
equally  well  in  city  or  countryside.  Its  outline  is  ra- 
ther variable  but  usually  it  has  rather  long,  spreading 


136  ARISTOCRATS   OF   THE   GARDEN 

branches  slightly  inclined  upward  and  each,  when 
laden  with  foliage,  somewhat  plumose  in  appearance. 
The  leaves  are  deciduous  and  resemble  closely  the 
leaflets  of  the  Maidenhair  Fern  and  in  the  autumn 
change  to  pure  yellow  before  they  fall.  This  noble 

^ 

tree  is  unlike  any  other  and  none  exceeds  it  in  beauty 
or  dignity. 

The  English  Yew  (Taxus  baccata)  and  its  varieties 
brown  badly  during  our  winters  and  are  not  really  hardy 
in  Massachusetts;  and  the  native  Yew  (T.  canadensis) 
of  woodland  swamps  often  suffers  in  the  same  way  when 
planted  in  open  situations.  The  Japanese  Yew  (T. 
cuspidatd),  on  the  contrary,  keeps  its  color  unimpaired 
and  is  the  Yew  par  excellence  for  New  England  gar- 
dens. An  eminent  authority  maintains  that  this  is 
the  most  valuable  plant  that  Japan  has  contributed 
to  New  England  gardens,  and  few,  if  any,  will  at- 
tempt to  gainsay  this.  The  foliage  is  blackish  green 
and  the  plant  is  handsome  on  lawns  and  makes  an  ex- 
cellent hedge.  Most  of  the  plants  in  cultivation  have 
been  raised  from  cuttings  and  only  occasional  ex- 
amples show  signs  of  developing  into  trees.  When 
raised  from  seeds,  however,  a  distinct  leader  is  usually 
developed  from  the  beginning. 

In  Japan  this  Yew  has  a  very  wide  distribution  and 
grows  in  moist  forests  in  the  extreme  north  of  Hok- 


THE   BEST   HARDY   CONIFERS  137 

kaido.  At  its  best  it  is  a  shapely  tree  fifty  feet  tall 
with  a  thick  trunk  and  wide  spreading  branches,  but 
on  exposed  mountain  slopes  it  is  reduced  to  a  low 
shrub.  In  cultivation  there  is  a  dwarf  variety  (nand) 
with  wide-spreading  branches  which  possesses  all  the 
good  qualities  of  the  type  and  is  most  suitable  for 
planting  when  low  evergreen  shrubs  are  desired. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

BROAD-LEAVED  EVERGREENS  FOR  NORTH- 
ERN GARDENS 

THE  PLANTS  OF  THIS  CLASS  THAT  CAN  BE  GROWN  ARE 
COMPARATIVELY  FEW  BUT  INCLUDE  SOME  GOOD  NATIVES 

IN  THE  late  autumn  and  throughout  the  winter, 
the  gardens  of  New  England  present  a  marked 
contrast  to  those  of  Old  England  in  that  their 
habitants,  save  the  Conifers  and  the  Yews,  are  bare 
of  leaves.  There  is  a  nakedness  about  our  gardens 
which  emphasizes  the  dreariness  of  the  winter  season. 
We  have  so  few  hardy,  broad-leaved  evergreen 
shrubs,  and  no  trees;  whereas  in  Great  Britain  they 
have  many  and  there  is  a  greenness  and  freshness 
about  their  gardens  at  all  seasons  of  the  year.  We 
cannot  help  envying  them  their  good  fortune  in  be- 
ing able  to  grow  out  of  doors  and  with  no  trouble  a 
wealth  of  plants  which  are  ever  clothed  in  restful 
green.  Climate  alone  is  responsible  and  since  this 
is  beyond  human  control,  the  garden  lovers  who 
live  in  the  colder  parts  of  eastern  North  America 
must  bow  to  the  inevitable.  Tall-growing  broad- 
leaved  Evergreens  belong  to  the  warm,  temperate, 

138 


'   . I  •  *          »»  • 


BROAD-LEAVED    EVERGREENS  139 

and  torrid  parts  of  the  earth  and,  with  few  excep- 
tions, are  not  found  in  the  cold,  temperate,  and  arctic 
regions. 

In  a  subsequent  chapter  the  Rhododendrons,  the 
noblest  group  of  hardy  broad-leaved  flowering  Ever- 
greens, will  be  dealt  with  in  detail,  and  here  we 
may  review  carefully  the  remaining  field  in  order 
to  find  out  just  what  is  our  position  in  the  matter  of 
hardy  broad-leaved  evergreen  plants.  The  regions  of 
the  world  where  possible  hardy  types  of  these  subjects' 
grow  have  been  pretty  well  ransacked  and  the  chances 
of  New  England  gardens  securing  any  notable  addi- 
tions are  remote.  China  which  has  so  bountifully 
supplied  us  with  favorite  flowers  during  the  past 
hundred  years  and  more,  has  contributed  very  little  to 
our  list  of  hardy  broad-leaved  Evergreens.  North 
Japan  has  been  fairly  liberal  and  one  or  two  have 
come  to  us  from  Europe,  but  the  great  majority  are 
native  of  American  soil  If  the  whole  of  this  coun- 
try were  under  consideration,  it  would  be  found  that 
more  such  Evergreens  can  be  grown  out  of  doors  here 
than  in  the  whole  of  Europe.  Indeed,  this  is  true  if 
the  Pacific  Slope  alone  be  considered,  but  such  favored 
regions  are  outside  of  this  purview. 

In  New  England  and  southward  to  Washington, 
D.  C.,  the  case  is  very  different  and  it  is  only  after 


140  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

years  of  trial  that  gardeners  learn  just  what  plants  can 
withstand  the  hot,  dry  summers  and  cold,  changeable 
winters  characteristic  of  these  parts  of  eastern  North 
America.  The  Arnold  Arboretum  is  the  only  place 
in  this  country  where  data  on  the  comparative  hardi- 
ness of  woody  plants,  covering  a  long  period  of  years, 
is  to  be  found.  For  this  reason,  this  chapter  is  based 
on  the  experiences  of  that  institution.  Here  and 
there  in  gardens,  even  in  the  neighborhood  of  Boston, 
Mass.,  a  plant  thrives  which  is  not  hardy  in  the  Arn- 
old Arboretum.  Nevertheless,  this  Arboretum  is  the 
safest  guide  for  all  desirous  of  growing  hardy  woody 
plants  in  the  colder  parts  of  the  United  States  of 
America.  Very  probably  some  reader  has  in  his  (or 
her)  garden  some  broad-leaved  Evergreen  not  men- 
tioned here  and  this  should  be  a  source  of  joy,  for  the 
list  in  its  extreme  limits  is  all  too  scant. 

We  who  garden  in  the  cooler  parts  of  eastern  North 
America  may  envy  those  of  warmer  climes  their  var- 
iety of  broad-leaved  Evergreens,  yet  in  the  native 
Mountain  Laurel  (Kalmia  latifolid)  we  possess  one 
plant  that  has  no  superior.  The  foliage  is  good 
at  all  seasons  and  in  mid-June  the  broad,  dome-like 
clusters  of  bowl-shaped  flowers,  either  pure  white,  or 
silvery  to  deepest  pink,  make  a  wondrous  picture. 
Truly  the  Mountain  Laurel  is  in  early  summer  the 


BROAD-LEAVED    EVERGREENS  141 

glory  of  woodland  and  hill  slope,  and  is  the  most 
beautiful  of  evergreen  shrubs  native  of  eastern  North 
America.  Many  Asiatic  Rhododendrons  have  larger 
leaves  and  larger  and  more  brilliantly  colored  flowers, 
but  of  all  the  broad-leaved  evergreen  plants  which  can 
be  grown  successfully  in  this  climate,  Kalmia  latifolia 
is  the  handsomest  and  most  satisfactory.  There  is  a 
variety  (alba)  with  pure  white  flowers  and  another 
(rubrd)  with  deep  pink,  nearly  red  flowers  and  rather 
dark  leaves.  Between  these  extremes  there  are  forms 
with  flowers  of  all  shades  of  pink  and  there  is  one 
(fuscata)  with  flowers  conspicuously  marked  by  a 
chocolate  band.  Another  variety  (polypetala)  has  the 
flowers  segmented  into  narrow  lobes,  but  this  plant  is 
not  very  ornamental.  The  variety  obtusata,  which 
rarely  flowers,  has  broad,  handsome,  Rhododendron- 
like  leaves.  Lastly,  there  is  a  dwarf  variety  (myrti- 
folia)  with  small  leaves  and  small  clusters  of  minute 
flowers.  All  these  varieties  are  sports  from  the  wild 
type  and  have  all  been  found  on  wild  plants.  By 
hybridization  and  selection  it  is  highly  probable  that 
new  and  improved  forms  could  be  evolved.  In  the 
matter  of  soil  and  situation,  the  Mountain  Laurel  is 
not  exacting,  but  it  is  fond  of  leaf  mould  and  an 
autumnal  mulch  of  leaves  is  beneficial.  Like  other 
members  of  the  great  Heather  family,  it  detests  lime- 


142  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

stone.    This  Kalmia  is  essentially  a  social  plant  and 
when  massed  together  is  most  effective. 

The  two  other  Kalmias  (K.  angustifolia  and  K. 
glaucd)  hardy  in  this  climate  are  much  less  ornamental 
but  are  likewise  evergreen.  The  former,  familiarly 
known  as  the  Sheep  Laurel,  is  common  in  swampy 
places  from  Maine  to  Georgia  and  westward  to  Wis- 
consin. It  is  a  branching  shrub  growing  from 
a  foot  to  a  yard  tall,  and  has  dull  olive-green  leaves 
and  clusters  of  crimson-pink  flowers.  It  is  popu- 
larly believed  to  be  poisonous  to  sheep.  The  other 
species,  known  as  the  Pale  Laurel  has  much  the  same 
distribution.  It  is  a  twiggy  and  smaller  plant  with 
flattened  stems,  narrow  leaves  with  recurved  edges 
and  white  on  the  under  side  and  has  terminal  clusters 
of  pale  lilac  to  crimson-pink  flowers.  It  is  essentially 
a  moisture-loving  plant.  Closely  related  to  the  Pale 
Laurel  and  very  similar  in  habit,  foliage,  and  general 
appearance  is  Andromeda  polifolia.  This  is  a  low 
shrub  from  one  to  two  feet  tall,  with  slender  stems  and 
small  clusters  of  pinkish  urn-shaped  flowers  and  is 
distributed  through  the  cold,  temperate,  and  sub- 
arctic regions  of  the  Northern  Hemisphere. 

Another  very  hardy  member  of  the  Heath  family 
is  Pieris  floribunda  (better  known  as  Andromeda  flori- 
bunda), which  opens  its  small,  white,  Heather-like 


BROAD-LEAVED  EVERGREENS        143 

flowers  at  the  first  burst  of  spring.  This  plant  is 
native  of  the  higher  slopes  of  the  southern  Appalachian 
Mountains  and  is  a  low,  broad,  round-topped  bush 
with  dark  green  shining  leaves  and  short,  erect  clusters 
of  flowers  which  are  fully  grown  in  the  autumn  and  the 
flower  buds  are  white  and  conspicuous  through  the 
winter.  Its  Japanese  relative  (P.  japonicd)  grows 
taller  and  has  larger  flowers  but,  unfortunately,  is 
much  less  hardy. 

For  planting  in  the  shade  of  trees  and  more  es- 
pecially by  the  s  de  of  woodland  streams  Leucothoe 
Catesbaei,  with  yard-long,  arching  stems,  glossy 
green,  broad,  pointed  leaves,  and  axillary  racemes  of 
small,  pure  white  flowers,  is  a  charming  plant.  It  is 
native  of  the  mountains  of  Virginia  and  Georgia, 
but  is  very  hardy.  By  the  side  of  a  babbling  brook 
in  the  Hemlock  grove  of  the  Arnold  Arboretum  it  is 
perfectly  happy  and  a  joy  to  behold  at  all  seasons  of 
the  year. 

The  American  Holly  (Ilex  opaca),  with  its  dull 
green  leaves,  is  much  inferior  to  the  English  Holly 
(I.  Aquifolium),  which  has  lustrous  foliage,  but  it 
has  the  merit  of  being  fairly  hardy  in  northern 
Massachusetts,  whereas  its  European  relative  is  not. 
The  American  Holly  is  a  large  bush  or  small  tree  and 
has  red  fruit.  It  delights  in  a  cool  soil  and  a  position 


144  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

sheltered  from  cutting  winds  and  the  morning  sun  in 
winter. 

A  broad-leaved  Evergreen  which  should  be  planted 
in  every  garden  is  the  Inkberry  (Ilex  glabra), 
one  of  the  most  attractive  of  native  shrubs.  It  is 
densely  branched  and  compact  in  habit  and  grows 
from  five  to  eight  feet  high  and  as  much  in  diameter, 
and  has  dark,  glossy  green,  smooth,  rounded  leaves 
and  black  fruit  on  inch-long  stalks.  It  forms  a  neat 
and  shapely  specimen  in  the  open,  is  excellent  for 
massing,  and  is  a  good  hedge  plant.  The  leaves  do 
not  burn  and  the  plant  grows  well  in  ordinary  garden 
soil  and  is  beautiful  at  all  seasons,  be  it  midwinter  or 
midsummer.  One  would  reasonably  suppose  that 
so  useful  a  shrub  would  be  grown  in  quantity  by  the 
nurserymen  of  eastern  North  America,  but,  alas! 
this  class  from  earliest  generations  has  derived  its 
inspiration  entirely  from  Europe  and  apparently  de- 
spises American  plants  as  too  common  for  attention. 

The  Japanese  Ilex  crenata  is  another  valuable 
evergreen  Holly  and  being  an  exotic  is  fairly  easy  to 
obtain  from  nurserymen.  It  makes  a  stiff  bush  with 
its  short,  dense  branches  and  is  handsome  as  a  speci- 
men and  is  well  adapted  for  making  hedges.  The 
leaves  are  small,  blackish  green  and  the  fruit  is  black 
and  is  freely  produced.  There  are  two  or  three 


BROAD-LEAVED   EVERGREENS  145 

forms  of  this  Holly  and  if  plants  are  raised  from  seed 
much  variation  in  size  of  leaf  is  shown.  Those  with 
the  smallest  leaves  are  hardiest  and  seldom  burn  in 
winter,  whereas  the  form  known  as  major  has  not 
proved  hardy  in  the  Arnold  Arboretum.  This  shrub, 
or  small  tree,  is  widely  spread  in  Japan  and  is  also 
much  grown  in  Japanese  gardens  where  it  is  usually 
clipped  and  trained  into  the  grotesque. 

The  Common  Box  of  Europe  (Buxus  sempervirens) 
is  scarcely  hardy  in  New  England  and  as  a  rule 
browns  badly  in  March  and  looks  unsightly  in  the 
spring.  There  are  many  forms  of  this  Box,  and  the 
hardiest  is  myrtifolia,  with  dull  green  leaves  which 
are  longer  than  they  are  broad.  As  a  low  edging 
around  formal  beds  the  Common  Box  winters  fairly 
well  when  the  snowfall  is  normal  or  in  excess  of  nor- 
mal, but  if  exposed  to  full  sun  in  March  the  leaves 
scald.  A  much  superior  plant  for  northern  gardens 
is  the  Japanese  Box  (B.  microphylla)  and  its  taller 
growing  variety  japonica,  both  being  perfectly  hardy 
in  the  Arnold  Arboretum.  The  type  is  dwarf  in  habit 
and  has  narrow,  wedge-shaped  leaves  and  is  very 
useful  for  edging  purposes  and  for  rockeries.  The 
variety  has  rounded  leaves,  yellowish  green  in  color 
and  makes  a  compact  bush  in  size  comparable  with 
its  European  relative.  Both  flower  in  early  spring 


146  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

and  are  freely  visited  by  bees.  The  Japanese  Box, 
which  is  distinguished  from  the  Common  Box  by  the 
relatively  long  stalk  to  the  rudimentary  ovary  of  the 
male  flowers,  is  far  from  being  well  known.  It  is 
rare  in  nurseries  where  forms  of  the  less  hardy  B. 
sempervirens  erroneously  and  unintentionally  pass 
muster  for  it. 

The  lovely  Oregon  Grape  (Mahonia  Aquifolium), 
with  its  lustrous,  metallic  green  leaves  which  in  late 
fall  assume  rich  shades  of  bronzy  green  and  blackish 
crimson  is,  unfortunately,  not  properly  hardy  here. 
In  winters,  when  the  snowfall  is  heavy  and  lies  on 
the  ground  until  spring,  this  shrub  winters  fairly 
well;  but  usually  the  leaves  burn  badly  and  though 
the  stems  are  not  often  killed  the  plants  are  very  un- 
sightly until  new  leaves  develop.  Much  hardier 
and  entirely  satisfactory  is  its  relative  M.  repens, 
with  similar  terminal  clusters  of  yellow  flowers  and 
bloomy  black  fruits  but  gray-green  leaves.  This 
species  grows  about  a  foot  high  and  has  a  creeping 
rootstock  from  which  shoots  arise  and  form  a  broad, 
low  thicket.  Very  beautiful  and  quite  hardy  is  the 
new  Chinese  Berberis  verruculosa,  with  prostrate 
and  arching  stems,  small,  prickly  Holly-like  leaves, 
dark  shining  green  above  and  white  below.  It 
grows  from  one  to  two  feet  high,  is  very  densely 


BROAD-LEAVED   EVERGREENS  147 

branched  and  has  yellow  flowers  in  the  axils  of  the 
leaves  and  these  are  followed  by  bloomy  black  fruit. 

Very  handsome  in  flower  and  striking  at  all  sea- 
sons are  the  Yuccas  with  their  spear-like  evergreen 
leaves.  Three  species  (Y.  jlaccida,  Y.  fdamentosa 
and  Y.  glaucd)  are  hardy  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Boston,  Mass.,  and  thrive  in  ordinary  garden  soil. 
Their  pure  white,  nodding,  top-shaped  flowers  are 
borne  in  profusion  on  erect,  branching  stems  from 
four  to  six  feet  tall. 

The  Garland  Flower  (Daphne  Cneorum)  is  a  well- 
known  evergreen  with  gray-green  and  terminal  heads 
of  fragrant  pink  blossoms.  Many  find  it  difficult 
to  establish  for  it  resents  transplanting  and  for  this 
reason  pot-grown  plants  should  be  obtained  in  prefer- 
ence to  those  grown  in  open  ground.  For  planting 
beneath  trees  there  is  nothing  better  than  Pachysan- 
dra  terminalis,  a  native  of  Japan  and  China.  It  grows 
about  ten  inches  high  and,  spreading  from  a  creeping 
rootstock,  forms  a  dense  ground  cover  in  situations 
where  but  few  plants  will  grow.  The  leaves  are  light 
green,  and  the  inconspicuous  flowers  are  followed  by 
whitish  fruits. 

Another  favorite  broad-leaved  Evergreen  is  the 
Lesser  Periwinkle  (Vinca  minor),  native  of  Europe 
and  western  Asia.  This  plant  trails  over  the  ground 


148  ARISTOCRATS   OF   THE   GARDEN 

and  forms  a  broad  mass  of  glossy  dark  green.  It 
thrives  equally  well  in  the  open  and  in  partial  shade. 
There  are  forms  with  white  and  purple  flowers  but 
none  is  better  than  the  type  with  its  clear  blue 
flowers. 

A  very  pleasing  little  evergreen  is  Pachystima 
Canbyi,  native  of  the  mountains  of  North  Carolina 
and  Virginia,  which  forms  neat  little  clumps  six 
inches  or  more  high.  The  foliage  is  dense,  small,  and 
rather  shining  pale  green.  The  western  P.  Myrsinites 
is  a  taller  plant  with  much  larger  leaves  but  the  habit 
is  less  good  and  it  often  suffers  in  winter.  These 
plants  have  inconspicuous  flowers  and  are  related  to 
the  Spindle-trees  (Evonymus).' 

The  Cowberry  (Vaccinium  Vitis-idaed)  is  a  north- 
ern, circumpolar  plant  which  grows  a  few  inches  high 
and  forms  dense,  broad  mats.  The  leaves  are  shining 
green,  the  flowers  white  or  pinkish  and  the  fruit  dark 
red.  At  any  season  of  the  year  this  little  plant  is 
pleasing.  A  closely  related  evergreen  is  the  Box 
Huckleberry  (Gaylussacia  brachycera),  one  of  the 
rarest  of  American  plants.  It  is  a  spreading  plant 
growing  from  six  to  ten  inches  high  and  has  shining 
green  Box-like  leaves. 

The  Mayflower  or  Trailing  Arbutus  (Epigaea 
repens)  common  on  the  borders  of  rocky  woods  and 


BROAD-LEAVED   EVERGREENS  149 

hillsides  of  New  England  and  southward,  is  a  lovely 
plant  but  alas!  not  very  amenable  under  cultivation. 
Its  sweet-scented  white  to  delicate  pink  flowers  open 
beside  the  remnants  of  snowdrifts  in  early  spring.  It 
is  regrettable  that  this  plant,  a  favorite  with  every- 
body, is  so  coy  and  hard  to  please  in  gardens.  An 
allied  plant,  the  Wintergreen  or  Checkerberry  (Gaul- 
theria  procumbens),  however,  grows  readily  in  any 
garden  soil.  This  common  shrub,  so  abundant  in 
woodlands  and  wild  places  generally  from  Maine 
southward  and  west  to  Michigan,  grows  from  three  to 
six  inches  high  and  has  lustrous  dark  green  ovate 
leaves  clustered  on  the  top  of  a  ruddy  stem  and  tiny 
urn-shaped  white  flowers  which  are  followed  by  pure 
red,  hanging,  aromatic  fruits. 

The  Crowberry  (Empetrum  nig  rum),  abundant  in 
cold,  temperate,  and  sub-arctic  regions  throughout  the 
Northern  Hemisphere,  has  insignificant  leaves,  yet  it 
forms  neat  mats  of  dark  green  in  the  vicinity  of 
eternal  ice  and  snow.  Its  relative,  Corema  Conradii, 
is  a  more  conspicuous  plant  with  broader  leaves  and 
forms  compact  clusters  about  six  inches  high. 

As  a  ground  cover  in  the  open  there  is  nothing  bet- 
ter than  the  Bearberry  (Arctostaphylos  uva-ursi),  with 
its  long  trailing  shoots  and  gray-green  leaves  forming 
a  dense  carpet.  The  flowers  are  white  or  pinkish, 


150  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE  GARDEN 

urn-shaped,  and  borne  several  together  at  the  end 
of  the  lateral  shoots;  the  fruit  is  globose  and  wine- 
red.  Like  many  other  members  of  the  Heath  family, 
the  Bearberry  is  not  only  native  of  this  country, 
but  is  spread  over  the  colder  regions  of  the  North- 
ern Hemisphere.  This  prostrate  evergreen  can  be 
used  to  good  effect  in  many  ways,  but  I  never  saw 
it  more  appropriately  employed  than  in  a  private 
cemetery  on  Long  Island,  N.  Y.,  where,  in  an  open- 
ing in  a  thin  wood,  it  carpets  a  basin  or  bowl  round 
which  nestle  flat  graves  in  clearings  of  the  native 
vegetation. 

.  The  Creeping  Snowberry  (Chiogenes  serpyllifolia), 
with  thread-like  stems  and  white  fruits,  is  pretty  on 
rocks  and  tree  stumps  in  shady  places.  So,  too,  is  the 
well-known  Partridgeberry  (Mitchella  repens),  with  a 
similar  habit  and  scarlet  fruits,  though  belonging  to  a 
widely  different  family. 

Twice  previously  in  these  pages  reference  has  been 
made  to  the  Heather  (Calluna  vulgaris)  and  certain 
Heaths  (Erica  spp.),  but  I  may  again  emphasize  the 
fact  that  these  charming  plants  are  perfectly  hardy 
provided  they  be  grown  in  the  open  where  they  may 
enjoy  the  full  sun  and  wind. 

For  climbing  plants  with  evergreen  foliage  we  are 
badly  off.  The  Ivy  (Hedera  Helix),  so  celebrated  in 


BROAD-LEAVED   EVERGREENS  151 

poetry  and  folklore,  is  not  hardy,  although  here  and 
there  rambling  over  an  old  tomb  in  a  shady  part  of 
some  cemetery,  a  plant  may  be  found  more  or  less  in- 
different to  the  winter's  severity.  No  other  plant  can 
exactly  take  the  place  of  the  Ivy,  but  we  are  really 
fortunate  in  having  so  good  a  substitute  as  the 
Japanese  Evonymus  radicans  and  its  variety  vegetus. 
These  are  invaluable  plants  with  good  foliage,  are 
quite  hardy,  and  admirably  adapted  for  covering  walls 
and  the  north  and  west  sides  of  buildings.  On 
boulders  or  even  in  the  open  border  they  form  a  fine 
tangled  mass  of  green.  They  are  root  climbers  and 
have  small  white  flowers  in  clusters  and  attractive 
white  fruits  which  open  and  display  the  seeds  with 
their  orange-scarlet  covering.  The  juvenile  stage  of 
the  variety  vegetus  is  sold  under  the  name  of  Evonymus 
radicans,  var.  minimus  and  also  as  Evonymus  kewensis. 
It  has  prostrate  stems  and  prettily  marbled  rounded 
foliage  and  is  a  charming  cover  and  rock  plant.  In 
China  grows  E.  radicans,  var.  acutus  and  the  baby  stage 
of  this  plant  has  ovate,  marbled  leaves  and  from  the 
manner  of  its  growth  in  the  Arnold  Arboretum  prom- 
ises to  be  a  very  useful  addition  to  the  best  of  ever- 
green climbers. 

The  only  hardy  and  really  evergreen  twining  vine 
we  have  is  Lonicera  Henry i,  a  recent  addition  from 


152  ARISTOCRATS   OF   THE   GARDEN 

China.  Over  walls  and  rocks  this  plant  makes  a  de- 
lightful tangle  and,  whilst  the  flowers  are  not  showy 
and  the  fruit  is  dull  black,  the  leaves  are  of  good  size 
and  dark  green  throughout  the  winter. 

There  are  a  few  other  broad-leaved  Evergreens 
whose  hardiness  in  New  England  is  not  yet  fully 
established  and  a  number  of  the  low-growing  plants 
mentioned  here  are  better  suited  for  the  rockery  than 
for  the  open  border. 


CHAPTER  IX 

NEW   CHINESE   TREES   AND    SHRUBS   FOR 
THE  PACIFIC  SLOPE  AND  OTHER  FAVORED 

REGIONS 

SOME  SPLENDID  EXAMPLES  AMONG  THE  GREAT  WEALTH 
OF  MATERIAL  THAT  HAS  RECENTLY  BEEN  BROUGHT  TO 

NOTICE 

THE  region  of  the  Pacific  Slope  with  its  mild  and 
genial  yet  diversified  climate  offers  enormous 
horticultural  possibilities,  and  in  the  state  of 
California  alone  it  is  possible  to  cultivate  out  of  doors 
a  greater  variety  of  plants  than  in  any  other  state  of 
the  Union.     In  the  North  the  climate  is  similar  to  that 
of  the  west  coast  of  Scotland;  in  the  South  it  is  like 
that  of  Palestine;  from  San  Francisco  to  Santa  Bar- 
bara it  resembles  that  of  the  Riveira  and  Algiers. 

Among  the  great  attractions  at  the  Panama-Pacific 
International  Exposition  in  San  Francisco  and  the 
Panama-California  Exposition  in  San  Diego  were  the 
remarkable  floral  displays  Visitors  from  the  East 
and  Middle  West  fully  conversant  with  the  horticul- 
tural material  grown  in  their  own  sections  were 
amazed  and  bewildered  at  the  variety  and  the  totally 

153 


154  ARISTOCRATS   OF   THE   GARDEN 

different  classes  of  plants  which  flourish  in  the  open  in 
California.  Plants  which  in  the  East  and  Middle 
West  are  grown  under  glass  in  pots  for  table  and  hall 
decoration,  in  California  grow  out  of  doors  into  large 
bushes  and  stately  trees;  and  the  same  is  of  course  also 
true  to  a  certain  degree  of  the  region  abutting  on  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico. 

In  New  England  only  plants  from  the  cold  temper- 
ate regions  of  the  Northern  Hemisphere  flourish  in  the 
open  ground  but  on  the  Pacific  Slope  and  in  the  real 
South  the  plants  of  the  cool  and  warm  temperate 
regions  of  both  Hemispheres  thrive  out  of  doors  and 
garden  lovers  there  may  enjoy  the  beauties  of  a  host 
of  plants  eastern  gardens  know  not  of. 

There  are  drawbacks  of  course  and  gardeners  in  these 
warmer  climes  have  difficulties  peculiarly  their  own. 
In  parts  of  the  South  and  West  there  is  a  meagre  water 
supply  but  this  can  be  and  is  overcome  by  irrigation. 
In  many  places  the  soil  is  more  or  less  alkaline  and  such 
a  soil  most  plants  abominate.  When  only  slightly  or 
moderately  alkaline  the  soil  may  be  neutralized  by 
growing  on  it  crops  of  beets  or  even  by  washing.  In 
only  slightly  alkaline  soils  most  trees  and  shrubs  will 
grow  if  vigorous  specimens  a  yard  or  more  tall  be 
planted  and  given  careful  attention  for  a  few  months. 
With  young  seedlings  and  small  plants  raised  from 


NEW  TREES   AND   SHRUBS  155 

cuttings  it  is  otherwise  and  until  these  become  of  fair 
size  and  full  of  vigor  it  is  necessary  that  they  be  grown 
in  a  neutral  soil. 

Except  in  extreme  cases  the  difficulties  are  not  in- 
superable, and  over  the  greater  portion  of  the  Pacific 
Slope  there  is  little  to  hinder  successful  gardening. 
Parts  of  California  have  become  one  of  the  flower-seed 
producing  areas  of  the  world  and  it  is  highly  probable 
that  others  will  become  famous  for  bulbs  of  the  sorts 
now  obtained  in  such  quantities  annually  from  Hol- 
land. The  Roses  of  Oregon  are  renowned  and  the 
highly  colored  apples  from  the  northern  areas  of  the 
Pacific  Slope  are  famed  the  world  over. 

Many  new  plants  have  been  raised  on  the  Pacific 
Slope  by  various  people,  including  a  new  race  of  Roses 
by  crossing  the  Chinese  Rosa  odorata,  var.  gigantea  and 
the  Himalayan  R.  Brunonii.  Mr.  John  McLaren,  the 
Nestor  of  Californian  gardening,  has  shown  what  an 
infinite  variety  of  beautiful  plants  can  be  successfully 
grown  in  the  open  ground  in  and  around  San  Fran- 
cisco, and  the  wonderful  collection  in  the  Golden  Gate 
Park  is  a  monument  to  the  skill,  foresight,  and  perse- 
verance of  this  remarkable  man. 

Now,  recent  exploration  work  in  central  and  west- 
ern China  has  added  some  hundreds  of  new  plants  to 
western  gardens  and  of  these  rather  less  than  one  half 


156  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

have  proved  hardy  in  the  states  of  Massachusetts  and 
New  York.  In  Great  Britain  virtually  all  have  be- 
come acclimatized  and  there  is  good  reason  for  be- 
lieving that  a  majority  will  flourish  on  the  Pacific 
Slope  and  on  the  Gulf.  Some  have  already  proved 
their  adaptability,  as,  for  example  Cotoneaster  pannosa 
and  Jasminum  primulinum. 

I  do  not  propose  to  mention  here  the  new  intro- 
ductions from  China  which  thrive  in  the  Arnold 
Arboretum,  Boston,  Mass.  These  are  dealt  with  else- 
where in  this  work.  My  object  is  to  tell  of  certain 
trees  and  shrubs  of  an  ornamental  character  suitable 
for  the  more  favored  climate  but  which  cannot  with- 
stand the  rigors  of  New  England  winters.  Many  of 
these  are  evergreen  in  character  and  all  are  of  proven 
value  in  parts  of  Great  Britain  and  France.  I  will 
commence  with  the  Rose  so  universal  a  favorite  and 
one  in  which  we  are  so  deeply  indebted  to  China  which 
gave  us  the  parents  of  our  Tea,  China,  and  Rambler 
Roses. 

Three  species  of  Musk  Rose  (Rosa  Rubus,  R.  Gen- 
tiliana,  and  R.  Helenae)  are  abundant  in  the  temper- 
ate parts  of  eastern  and  central  China  and  two  others 
(R.  filipes  and  R.  longicuspis)  are  common  in  the 
western  part  of  that  land.  The  first  four  are  quite 
new  and  the  fifth  though  long  ago  recorded  from 


NEW  TREES   AND    SHRUBS  157 

India  has  remained  an  obscure  plant  down  to  the 
present  time.  All  are  strong-growing  species  making 
tangled  bushes  fifteen  feet  tall  and  twenty  feet  and 
more  through  and  all  have  fragrant  musk-scented 
flowers.  In  R.  filipes  the  inflorescence  is  pyramidal 
and  the  flowers  are  rather  small  with  slender  stalks 
and  are  borne  a  hundred  or  more  together  in  one 
truss.  The  other  species  have  larger  flowers  pro- 
duced in  broad,  flattened,  or  rounded  masses.  In 
R.  Rubus  the  leaves  are  five-foliolate  and  hairy  on  the 
underside;  in  R.  Gentiliana  they  are  five-foliolate  and 
glaucous  below;  in  R.  Helenae  seven-  to  nine-foliolate 
and  slightly  hairy  on  the  underside;  in  R.  longicuspis 
they  are  seven-  to  nine-foliolate,  intense  green  and 
quite  smooth.  There  are  of  course  other  technical 
and  obvious  differences  which  need  not  be  related 
here,  but  all  are  extremely  floriferous,  last  in  bloom 
for  more  than  a  month,  and  retain  their  foliage  very 
late  in  the  season.  No  species  of  Rose  is  more  beau- 
tiful in  flower  and  foliage  than  these  and  one  and  all 
with  their  cascades  of  pure  white  fragrant  flowers 
are  delightful  garden  shrubs.  Further,  they  offer 
possibilities  in  the  development  of  new  races  of 
Roses  which  the  hybridist  can  best  appreciate. 
With  rose-pink  flowers  there  is  the  pretty  R.  Will- 
mottiae  which  is  an  erect-growing  shrub  with  arching 


158  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE    GARDEN 

branches,  small  gray-green  leaves  and  flowers  in 
pairs  or  singly,  and  the  allied  R.  multibracteata  with 
larger  and  greener  leaves  and  clusters  of  numerous 
rose-colored  flowers.  There  are  other  species,  too, 
but  this  half  dozen  must  suffice. 

A  genus  of  ornamental  shrubs  which  recent  work 
in  China  has  vastly  augmented  is  Cotoneaster.  Two 
dozen  of  these  new  species  have  deciduous  leaves 
and  thrive  amazingly  in  the  Arnold  Arboretum,  but 
about  half  a  dozen  have  evergreen  leaves,  and  are  not 
hardy  there.  One  of  these,  C.  pannosa,  flourishes  in 
and  around  San  Francisco  and  Mr.  McLaren  told 
me  that  he  considered  it  one  of  the  most  valuable 
plants  of  recent  introduction.  Closely  related  to 
that  species  is  C.  Harroviana  which  is  a  superior 
plant  with  rather  larger  and  thicker  shining  green 
leaves,  broader  masses  of  flowers  and  wide-spreading 
branches  with  red-purple  stems.  The  Willow-leaved 
Cotoneaster  (C.  salicifolia)  is  an  erect  shrub  growing 
ten  to  twelve  feet  tall  with  arching  branches,  pendent 
whip-like  branchlets,  narrow  shin'ng  green  leaves 
clothed  with  a  felt  of  white  hairs  on  the  underside 
and  flat  corymbs  of  flowers.  Its  variety  rugosa 
has  rather  shorter  and  broader  leaves  which  are 
undulate  on  the  upper  surface;  the  variety  floccosa  has 
more  narrow  leaves  and  brighter  red  fruits  than  the 


NEW   TREES   AND    SHRUBS  159 

type  and  the  habit  is  more  spreading.  The  allied 
C.  Henryana  is  a  strong-growing  shrub,  ten  to  fifteen 
feet  tall  with  spreading  slender  branches  pendent 
at  the  tips  and  relatively  large  leaves,  rather  thin 
in  texture,  bright  green  above  and  slightly  downy,  and 
broad  masses  of  white  flowers  which  are  followed  by 
small  fruits.  The  above  all  have  showy  flowers, 
brilliant  red  fruits,  and  good  foliage.  In  C.  Franchetii 
and  C.  amoena  the  flowers  are  insignificant  but  the 
scarlet  fruits  are  large  and  conspicuous  and  produced 
in  great  abundance.  These  are  much-branched  shrubs 
growing  from  six  to  twelve  feet  high  with  twiggy 
slender,  gracefully  arching  and  spreading  branches, 
and  small  leaves,  dark  green  above  and  gray  below. 
Though  normally  deciduous  the  leaves  persist  and 
retain  their  freshness  through  the  winter  in  mild 
climates. 

As  a  ground  cover  either  on  the  flat  or  for  steep 
slopes  C.  Dammeri  (better  known  as  C.  humifusd)  is 
a  most  valuable  acquisition.  It  is  perfectly  pros- 
trate and  roots  are  freely  emitted  from  the  branches; 
the  evergreen  leaves  are  rounded  and  small  and  in- 
tense shining  green,  and  the  flowers,  which  are  rela- 
tively large  and  pure  white,  are  produced  singly  or 
severally  together  and  are  followed  by  bright  scarlet 
fruits. 


160  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE    GARDEN 

The  Japanese  Photinia  glabra  and  the  Chinese 
P.  serrulata  are  much-esteemed  evergreen  shrubs 
in  California  and  the  former  is  a  valuable  hedge 
plant.  The  new  P.  Davidsoniae  is  superior  to  either. 
This  is  a  shapely  evergreen  tree  growing  from  forty  to 
fifty  feet  tall  with  dark  glossy  green  leaves  which  are 
reddish  when  young,  and  white  flowers  borne  in  broad 
flattened  heads  and  followed  by  masses  of  scarlet 
fruits.  It  is  a  great  favorite  among  the  Chinese 
and  in  central  China  is  commonly  planted  round 
shrines  and  tombs. 

Closely  allied  to  Cotoneaster  is  Pyracantha  of 
which  the  European  P.  coccinea  and  its  var.  Lalandii 
are  well-known  and  much-appreciated  shrubs  on  the 
Pacific  Slope.  The  Chinese  P.  crenulata  and  P. 
angustifolia  are  magnificent  when  in  fruit.  The  first- 
named  resembles  the  European  species  in  habit  but 
has  differently  shaped  leaves  and  the  fruits  vary  in 
color  from  red  to  orange-scarlet.  The  other  is 
upright  in  habit  with  rigid,  horizontally  disposed 
branches,  and  narrow,  oblong,  dark  green  leaves. 
The  fruit  is  scarlet  but  in  habit  and  general  appear- 
ance this  new  plant  is  very  distinct. 

Not  far  removed  in  relationship  from  the  above 
is  Stranvaesia  with  green  persistent  leaves,  which 
in  winter  become  beautifully  tinted,  and  broad  flat 


NEW  TREES  AND  SHRUBS  161 

heads  of  pure  white  Hawthorn-like  flowers  followed 
by  masses  of  scarlet  to  orange-scarlet  fruits.  There 
are  two  kinds :  S.  Davidiana  with  rather  large  oblong 
leaves  and  its  variety  undulata  with  much  smaller 
and  narrower  leaves.  Both  are  much-branched  shrubs 
growing  from  five  to  fifteen  feet  tall  and  as  much  in 
diameter.  Another  pleasing  shrub  and  one  capable 
of  withstanding  much  drought  is  Osteomeles  Schwer- 
inae  which  has  very  small,  pinnately  divided,  dark 
green  persistent  leaves,  showy  white  flowers,  and  black 
fruits. 

Among  the  new  Viburnums  from  China  are  a 
number  of  very  distinct  and  ornamental  evergreen 
species.  One  of  the  best  is  V.  Henryi  which  is  a  large 
much-branched  shrub  from  ten  to  fifteen  feet  high 
with  ascending  and  spreading  branches,  thick,  glossy 
green  oblong  leaves,  erect  pyramidate  masses  of  pure 
white  flowers  and  beautiful  fruits  which  as  they  ripen 
change  to  coral-red,  scarlet,  and  finally  to  jet  black. 
This  new-comer  is  one  of  the  most  strikingly  hand- 
some members  of  a  distinguished  group.  Very  distinct 
too  is  V.  Dauidii  which  has  dark  green,  leathery  leaves 
with  prominent  veins.  This  is  a  low-growing,  branch- 
ing shrub  seldom  exceeding  two  feet  in  height  with 
broad  flat  heads  of  pure  white  flowers  which  are  suc- 
ceeded by  indigo-blue  fruits.  It  is  very  suitable  for 


162  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

rockeries  and  makes  a  good  ground  cover.  Other 
species  with  blue  fruits  are  V.  propinquum  and  V. 
Harryanum.  The  former  is  a  loosely  branched  shrub 
growing  from  five  to  ten  feet  high  and  has  shining 
green  lance-shaped  leaves  two  to  four  inches  long;  the 
other  is  very  compact  in  habit  with  twiggy  shoots  and 
small  deep  green  rounded  leaves  and  is  totally  unlike 
any  other  Viburnum  and  closely  resembles  Box 
(Buxus)  in  general  appearance.  Both  have  inconspic- 
uous greenish  white  flowers.  Another  fine  Evergreen 
is  V.  coriaceum  which  is  a  large  tree-like  bush  growing 
from  fifteen  to  twenty-five  feet  tall  with  ascending 
and  spreading  branches  clothed  with  large  dull  green 
leaves  and  bearing  in  season  trusses  of  creamy-white 
flowers  with  conspicuous  Wue  stamens  and  bloomy 
black  fruits.  Very  different  is  V.  utile  with  flattened 
round  heads  of  fragrant  flowers,  pink  in  the  bud  and  pure 
white  when  fully  expanded,  and  jet  black  fruits.  This 
is  a  much-branched  shrub  growing  from  six  to  twelve 
feet  tall,  with  twiggy  branches,  small,  thick  leaves, 
lustrous  dark  green  above  and  gray  on  the  underside. 
This  species  grows  naturally  in  rocky  places  and  with- 
stands drought  exceedingly  well.  A  remarkable 
Viburnum  and  totally  unlike  any  other  is  V.  rhytido- 
phyllum  with  long  deep  green,  lance-shaped,  strongly 
wrinkled  leaves  which  on  the  underside  are  covered  w;th 


NEW  TREES  AND  SHRUBS          163 

a  dense  white  felt.  It  is  a  shrub  from  five  to  ten  feet 
tall,  compact  in  habit  and  has  broad  flat  heads  of  dirty 
white  rather  foetid  flowers  succeeded  by  handsome 
fruits  which  as  they  ripen  change  to  pink  and  crimson 
and  are  finally  jet  black.  Somewhat  similar  in  aspect 
to  the  preceding  is  V.  buddleifolium  but  its  leaves  are 
smaller  and  thinner  and  are  scarcely  wrinkled  and  its 
flowers  more  showy. 

One  of  the  most  charming  of  recently  introduced 
evergreen  shrubs  is  Lonicera  nitida  which  is  lovely  as  a 
lawn  shrub,  of  unique  value  for  making  low  hedges, 
and  may  be  trimmed  and  used  in  the  manner  of  Box  for 
edging  garden  paths  and  flower  beds.  It  grows  from 
three  to  six  feet  tall  and  has  innumerable  rigid,  twiggy, 
ascending  and  spreading  branches  densely  furnished 
with  small  glossy  green  leaves;  the  flowers  are  yellow- 
ish-white, small  but  very  fragrant,  and  the  fruits  are 
bluish  purple.  This  shrub  roots  readily  from  cuttings 
and  grows  freely  and  rapidly  in  any  ordinary  garden 
soil.  Akin  to  the  preceding  is  L.  pileata  which  has 
similar  flowers  and  fruits  but  larger  leaves,  not  shin- 
ing, and  low-spreading  and  prostrate  in  habit. 

Of  evergreen  Privets  two  new-comers  (Ligustrum 
Henry  i  and  L.  Delavayanum  (better  known  as  L.  Prattii) 
are  worthy  of  recognition.  The  former  has  rather 
short  and  broad  shining  green  leaves  and  the  other 


164  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE   GARDEN 

more  narrow  and  oblong  leaves  which  are  also  lustrous. 
Both  are  branching  shrubs  growing  from  five  to  eight 
feet  high  and  make  fine  specimens,  andL.Delavayanum, 
on  account  of  its  free  habit,  neat  growth  and  dense 
foliation,  is  a  most  valuable  hedge  plant. 

Camellias  in  variety  with  their  shining  evergreen 
leaves  and  handsome  flowers  are  general  favorites  and 
in  the  new  C.  cuspidata  (correctly,  Thea  cuspidata), 
we  have  the  hardiest  species  of  the  genus.  It  is  a 
shrub  from  four  to  eight  feet  tall,  with  small  leaves, 
single  white  flowers  of  medium  size  and  it  flowers  very 
freely  when  the  plants  are  quite  small. 

China  is  very  rich  in  species  of  Holly  and  a  number 
of  valuable  and  distinct  kinds  have  been  added  to  our 
gardens.  The  best  of  its  class  is  Ilex  Pernyi  which  is  a 
shrub,  from  six  to  eighteen  feet  tall,  narrowly  pyramidal 
in  outline  with  rigid  branches  and  small,  very  spinous 
dark  green  leaves  and  red  fruits.  Either  for  speci- 
mens or  for  hedges  this  Holly  is  invaluable.  Closely 
allied  to  the  above  is  /.  Veitchii  which  is  similar  in 
habit  but  has  very  much  larger  leaves.  Quite  unlike 
one's  conception  of  a  Holly  are  /.  Fargesii  and  /. 
Franchetiana  with  their  long,  narrow,  Willow-like 
entire  or  slightly  toothed  leaves.  Both  are  large- 
growing,  sparsely  branched  shrubs  with  white  frag- 
rant flowers  and  relatively  large  scarlet  fruits.  Very 


NEW   TREES   AND    SHRUBS  165 

distinct  too  is  /.  yunnanensis  with  its  compact  col- 
umnar habit,  small  rounded  spineless  leaves  and  pink 
fragrant  flowers  which  are  followed  by  small  red 
fruits.  Another  good  Holly  is  /.  corallina  with  ob- 
long, lance-shaped  leaves  from  two  to  three  inches  long, 
undulate  along  the  margins  and  sessile  clusters  of  small 
vivid  scarlet  fruits.  This  is  a  shrub  growing  from  six 
to  twelve  feet  high  with  slender  spreading  and  more  or 
less  pendent  branches. 

Very  like  the  common  European  Holly  (Ilex 
Aquifolium)  in  foliage  is  Itea  ilicifolia  which  belongs 
to  a  totally  different  family.  This  is  a  sun-loving, 
drought-resisting,  much-branched  shrub  growing  from 
six  to  twelve  feet  tall  with  small  white  flowers  borne  in 
slender  cylindrical  pendent  tails  each  from  twelve  to 
eighteen  inches  long.  Both  in  flower  and  foliage  this 
evergreen  shrub  is  singularly  attractive. 

One  of  the  most  valuable  garden  shrubs  cultivated 
on  the  Pacific  Slope  is  Herberts  Darwinii,  native  of 
Chile,  South  America.  From  China,  which  is  the 
headquarters  of  the  Berberis  family,  there  has  been 
recently  introduced  a  large  number  of  new  species  and 
among  them  several  of  quite  exceptional  merit.  In 
the  front  rank  of  these  is  B.  Gagnepainii  with  masses 
of  clear  yellow  flowers  followed  by  bloomy  black  fruits. 
This  is  a  compact  shrub  from  five  to  eight  feet  tall, 


166  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

columnar  in  outline  with  narrow-pointed  dull  green 
persistent  leaves.  Other  valuable  species  are  B. 
atrocarpa,  B.  Julianae  and  B.  Sargentiana,  which 
differ  one  from  another  in  size  and  shape  of  leaves  and 
fruits  but  agree  in  being  much-branched  upright  grow- 
ing shrubs,  from  five  to  eight  feet  tall,  with  thick  dark 
evergreen  leaves,  yellow  flowers  and  black  fruits. 
The  sparingly  branched  B.  Veitchii  (known  in  gardens 
as  B.  acuminatd)  is  very  distinct  and  so  is  B.  triacan- 
thophora  which  is  a  twiggy  shrub,  from  three  to  five  feet 
tall  and  as  much  broad,  with  yellow  flowers  stained 
with  red,  and  black  fruits.  For  rockeries  and  rocky 
places  the  semiprostrate  B.  candidula  and  B.  verrucu- 
losa  with  small  evergreen  Holly-like  leaves,  lustrous 
above  and  white  beneath,  are  most  delightful  plants. 
Another  low-growing  species  is  B.  Wilsonae  with 
dense  twiggy  branches,  gray-green  semipersistent 
leaves  which  become  beautifully  tinted  in  the  late  fall, 
and  masses  of  yellow  flowers  succeeded  by  brilliant 
salmon-red  globose  berries. 

As  low-growing  evergreen  shrubs  suitable  for  dry 
soils  and  for  planting  under  trees,  Sarcococca  humile 
and  S.  ruscifolia  may  be  confidently  recommended 
as  useful  additions  to  the  limited  number  of  plants 
that  will  thrive  under  such  conditions. 

A  strikingly  handsome  evergreen  shrub  of  medium 


NEW  TREES  AND  SHRUBS  167 

height  is  Osmanthus  armatus  with  thick  Holly-like 
leaves  from  four  to  six  inches  long  and  from  one  to  one 
and  a  half  inches  broad  and  coarsely  toothed.  The 
flowers  are  creamy-white  and  very  fragrant  and  are 
produced  in  the  autumn.  The  spring-blooming  0. 
Delavayi,  with  small  leaves  and  pure  white  fragrant 
flowers,  is  also  worthy  of  the  widest  recognition. 
Another  useful  evergreen  shrub  or  small  tree  is 
Sycopsis  sinensis,  a  relative  of  the  American  Witch 
Hazel,  with  inconspicuous  flowers,  twiggy  branches, 
and  neat  foliage. 

My  Jasminum  primulinum  with  its  arching  shoots, 
dark  green  leaves,  and  large,  clear  yellow  flowers 
produced  from  the  leaf-axils,  needs  no  introduction 
to  the  Pacific  Slope,  but  the  red-flowered  J.  Beesianum 
deserves  to  be  better  known.  This  is  a  low-spreading 
and  even  prostrate  shrub  with  simple  dull  green 
leaves,  and  is  very  suitable  for  planting  on  banks. 
It  is  fond  of  sun,  can  withstand  drought,  and  the 
flowers  though  described  as  red  vary  to  pink  and  even 
to  nearly  white. 

Popularly  known  as  Summer  Lilac  Buddleia  Da- 
vidii  and  its  varieties  have  won  widespread  recog- 
nition since  I  introduced  them  some  fifteen  years 
ago  and  they  have  been  frequently  mentioned  in 
the  Garden  Magazine.  For  the  Pacific  Slope  two 


168  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

other  species  which  produce  their  flowers  in  January 
and  February  are  strongly  recommended.  One  of 
these  (B.  asiaticd)  has  pure  white,  deliciously  scented 
flowers  arranged  on  long,  slender  cylindrical  tails, 
gray  Willow-like  leaves,  and  slender  arching  and 
spreading  branches.  The  other  (B.  officinalis)  is  a 
more  sturdy  shrub  with  broader  leaves,  stouter 
branches,  and  broader  branching  heads  of  rose-pink 
flowers  each  with  an  orange  eye.  A  hybrid  between 
these  two  species  has  been  raised  and  named  B. 
Farquharii.  This  plant  has  pale  pink  flowers  and 
is  perfectly  intermediate  between  the  parents  and 
combines  the  good  qualities  of  both.  These  "Winter 
Lilacs,"  as  they  may  be  termed,  are  very  free  grow- 
ing and  free  flowering  shrubs  and  to  obtain  the  best 
results  they  should  be  severely  pruned  each  year 
after  flowering. 

The  Brambles  (Rubus)  are  not  usually  regarded 
as  ornamental  garden  plants  but  many  of  the  Chinese 
species  have  strong  claims  to  be  so  considered. 
Among  semi-evergreen  species  with  attractive  foliage 
and  pleasing  habit  I  may  mention  Rubus  chroosepalus 
with  leaves  like  those  of  Tilia  petiolaris;  R.  bambu- 
sarum  with  three-partite  leaves,  dark  green  above 
and  dun-colored  below;  the  closely  allied  R.  Henry i 
with  lobed  leaves;  R.  flagelliflorus  with  entire  leaves 


NEW  TREES  AND  SHRUBS          169 

marbled  with  metallic  green  and  brownish-purple 
above;  R.  Swinhoei  with  narrow  oblong  pointed 
leaves,  gray  on  the  underside;  and  R.  ichangensis 
with  vivid  green  nearly  heart-shaped,  pointed  leaves 
and  large  elongated  clusters  of  bright  red  fruits.  All 
these  Brambles  have  slender  whip-like  shoots  and 
when  trained  to  poles  or  to  a  pergola  are  very  attrac- 
tive. 

New  deciduous-leaved  flowering  shrubs  are  so 
very  numerous  that  I  hesitate  to  embark  on  the 
subject  and  I  shall  content  myself  with  the  mention 
of  three  groups.  The  Deutzias  are  much  appreciated 
spring-flowering  shrubs  and  in  our  gardens  we  enjoy 
several  old  species  and  the  wonderful  race  of  beauti- 
ful hybrids  evolved  by  the  late  Monsieur  Victor 
Lemoine  of  glorious  memory.  In  addition  to  these 
China  has  given  us  quite  recently  a  number  of  very 
distinct  and  lovely  species  such  as  the  rosy-lilac 
flowered  D.  longifolia  and  its  more  deeply  colored 
variety  Veitchii;  D.  Wilsonii  with  glistening  white 
flowers  larger  than  those  of  any  of  its  allies;  D.  dis- 
color with  large  masses  of  white  flowers;  D.  Schnei- 
deriana  and  its  variety  laxiflora  with  pyramidate 
trusses  of  white  flowers,  and  the  curious  D.  mollis 
with  soft  hairy  leaves  and  flattened  heads  of  small 
white  flowers.  These  species  are  valuable  for  em- 


170  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

bellishing  outdoor  gardens  as  specimens  or  for  forc- 
ing purposes  for  Christmas  and  Easter. 

Closely  allied  to  the  Witch  Hazel  (Hamamelis)  is 
Corylopsis,  of  which  the  Japanese  C.  spicata  and  C. 
paudflora  are  well  known.  From  China  the  genus 
has  recently  been  considerably  augmented  and  such 
species  as  C.  sinensis,  C.  Veitchiana,  C.  Willmottiana, 
and  C.  platypetala  are  decided  acquisitions.  Like 
the  Japanese  species  they  are  spring-flowering  shrubs 
and  have  pendent  short  racemes  of  yellow  fragrant 
flowers  which  are  produced  in  great  profusion  before 
the  leaves  unfold.  The  leaves  are  gray-green,  and 
either  in  flower  or  foliage  these  shrubs  are  of  pleasing 
appearance.  Another  new  spring-flowering  shrub  is 
Stachyurus  chinensis  with  pendulous  racemes  of 
yellow,  scented  flowers.  This  forms  a  bush  from  five  to 
eight  feet  tall  and  has  spreading  branches,  deep  green 
leaves,  and  purplish  brown  shoots. 

Lastly  I  may  mention  Salix  Bockii  and  S.  magnified, 
two  most  extraordinary  Willows.  The  former  is 
an  upright-growing,  much-branched  twiggy  shrub 
with  small  gray-green  leaves  and  is  worth  growing 
as  an  autumn  flowering  plant.  The  catkins  are  white 
and  are  borne  in  great  profusion  on  the  current  sea- 
son's shoots  in  the  late  summer  and  autumn — a  char- 
acter almost  unique  in  Willows.  The  other  is  a 


NEW  TREES   AND    SHRUBS  171 

magnificent  foliage  plant.  It  is  a  large  bush,  from  ten 
to  twenty  feet  tall,  with  gray-green  leaves  on  red 
stalks  and  I  have  measured  the  leaf-blade  eight  inches 
long  and  five  anil  a  quarter  inches  wide!  The  leaves 
rather  suggest  those  of  the  Yulan  (Magnolia  denudata), 
so  much  so  in  fact  that  when  I  discovered  the  plant 
I  momentarily  took  it  for  a  species  of  Magnolia. 

Of  new  trees  worthy  of  recommendation  there  are 
many,  but  I  have  space  to  mention  only  a  dozen. 
The  Bull  Bay  (Magnolia  grandiflord)  of  the  south- 
eastern states  is  rightly  appreciated  as  one  of  the 
noblest  and  beautiful  of  all  flowering  evergreen  trees. 
From  China,  gardens  have  received  a  closely  allied 
species  (M.  Delavayi)  which  has  larger  and  pointed 
leaves,  dull  green  above  and  pale  below  and  equally 
large,  white  cup-shaped  flowers.  These  two  Mag- 
nolias are  of  about  equal  hardiness  and  are  most 
worthy  companions. 

An  ornamental  flowering  tree  is  Carrieria  calycina 
with  its  bright  green  oblong  leaves  and  pyramidate 
heads  of  ivory-white  waxy  flowers.  It  is  a  much- 
branched,  flat-headed  tree  of  medium  height  and  the 
flowers  are  borne  conspicuously  at  the  ends  of  the 
shoots. 

One  of  the  most  beautiful  of  small  trees  is  Sta- 
phylea  holocarpa  with  large  pendent  clusters  of  pure 


172  ARISTOCRATS   OF   THE   GARDEN 

white  to  pink  flowers  borne  in  profusion  before  the 
leaves  unfold.  The  variety  rosea  has  rose-colored 
flowers  and  the  leaves  are  downy  on  the  underside. 
Both  form  slender  trees,  from  fifteen  to  thirty  feet  tall, 
with  spreading  branches,  bright  green  leaves,  and  pale 
green  twigs.  The  flowers  are  rich  in  honey  and 
deliciously  fragrant. 

The  Tree  of  Heaven  (Ailanthus  glandulosa)  is  a 
very  old  inhabitant  of  gardens  but  the  new  A.  Vil- 
moriniana,  although  much  less  hardy,  is  a  more  hand- 
some tree.  When  young  the  trunk  and  branches 
are  thickly  studded  with  short  prickles.  The  leaves 
are  more  than  a  yard  long  and  the  rhachis  is  reddish 
in  color  and  prickly,  and  no  other  tree  of  north  tem- 
perate regions  has  so  large  leaves.  It  grows  very 
rapidly  and  is  native  of  the  warm  arid  valleys  of 
central  and  western  China. 

A  tree  which  thrives  in  dry  regions  is  Pistacia 
chinensis.  This  is  one  of  the  largest  of  Chinese 
trees  and  has  a  very  thick  trunk,  massive,  wide- 
spreading  branches  which  form  a  flattened  or  rounded 
crown;  the  leaves  are  dark  green  pinnately  divided 
and  in  the  fall  assume  wondrous  tints  of  orange  and 
crimson.  The  flowers  are  inconspicuous  but  the 
bunches  of  small  fruits,  which  are  rich  in  oil,  are 
showy  and  as  they  ripen  change  to  scarlet  and  are 


NEW  TREES  AND  SHRUBS          173 

finally  blue.  The  wood  is  valuable  and  the  young 
shoots  with  half -grown  leaves  are  eaten  as  a  vegetable 
by  the  Chinese  after  the  manner  of  spinach. 

The  Chinese  Hogplum  (Spondias  axillaris)  is  an- 
other drought-resistant  tree  worthy  of  extended  cul- 
tivation. It  grows  from  forty-five  to  eighty  feet  tall 
and  has  thick  branches  forming  an  oval  or  flattened 
crown.  The  leaves  are  pinnately  divided  and  the 
oval  to  ellipsoid  yellow  fruit  is  edible  but  lacks  flavor. 

In  eastern  and  central  China  the  people  consider 
Xylosma  racemosum  and  its  variety  pubescens  the 
most  beautiful  of  all  their  evergreen  trees  and  apply 
to  it  a  name  which  signifies  "Wintergreen."  It  is 
commonly  planted  over  shrines  and  graves  and  in 
temple  grounds,  and  has  dark  lustrous  green  leaves, 
inconspicuous  flowers,  and  black  pea-like  fruits.  The 
branching  is  dense  and  the  crown  wide-spreading, 
oval,  rounded,  or  flattened  and  the  short  inner 
branches  are  spiny. 

A  Chinese  Poplar  (Populus  lasiocarpa)  has  larger 
leaves  than  any  other  member  of  the  genus.  It  is  a 
moisture-loving  tree,  rather  sparsely  branched,  and 
loosely  pyramidal  in  outline  and  has  bright  green 
heart-shaped  pointed  leaves,  from  ten  to  twelve  inches 
wide  and  more  long,  with  the  leafstalks,  midrib,  and 
principal  veins  of  a  rich  red  hue.  In  the  mild  parts 


174  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

of  the  Pacific  Slope  which  enjoy  a  moist  climate  this 
new  Poplar  should  prove  a  great  acquisition  to  the 
list  of  ornamental  foliage  trees.  A  handsome  new 
Poplar  is  P.  Wilsonii  with  its  large,  rounded,  and 
slightly  pointed  leaves  dark  green  above  and  pale  on 
the  underside.  Other  valuable  Poplars  suitable  for 
the  cooler  parts  of  the  Pacific  Slope,  but  quite  hardy 
in  the  coldest  parts  of  this  country,  are  P.  suaveolens, 
P.  szechuanica,  and  P.  Simonii,  both  quick-growing 
trees  useful  for  street  or  park  planting. 

It  would  be  a  simple  matter  to  increase  this  list 
fourfold  and  then  not  enumerate  all  the  new  Chinese 
plants  worthy  of  recognition.  But  finality  is  not 
attempted.  Garden  lovers  of  the  Pacific  Slope  who 
take  up  even  half-a-dozen  of  the  plants  mentioned 
here  and  give  them  the  same  attention  and  treat- 
ment accorded  to  more  familiar  trees  and  shrubs  will 
assuredly  enjoy  pleasurable  satisfaction. 


a- 

3     3 
a*     O. 


5  > 

—  — 

—  - 
M 


Is 

03     </> 


03 


CHAPTER  X 

EARLY  SPRING-FLOWERING  TREES  AND 

SHRUBS 

ONE  OF  AMERICA'S  GOLDEN  OPPORTUNITIES 

IF  THERE  be  one  season  of  the  year  wherein 
outdoor  flowers  are  more  keenly  appreciated  than 
another  it  is  without  doubt  that  of  spring.  All  of 
us  welcome  the  season  when  Nature  puts  on  new  ap- 
parel and  appears  in  all  the  freshness  of  vigorous 
youth.  And  rightly  so,  for  fallen  indeed  is  the  state  of 
those  in  whom  the  joyousness  of  spring  finds  no  an- 
swering echo.  Garden  lovers  in  particular  greet  the 
springtime  with  open  hands  and  gladsome  hearts,  for 
then  appear  in  beauteous  blossom  a  hundred  and  one 
plant  treasures  Who  among  us  does  not  welcome 
that  sweetly  pretty  harbinger  of  spring  the  Winter 
Aconite  (Eranthis  hyemalis)  with  its  small,  clear  yellow 
flowers?  And  with  what  pleasant  thrill  we  note  the 
first  expanding  blossoms  of  the  Snowdrop!  Posses- 
sors of  gardens  differ  widely  in  their  tastes  and  affec- 
tions for  different  classes  of  plants  but  all  agree  in  the 
desire  for  subjects  which  produce  flowers  early  in  the 

175 


176  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE   GARDEN 

spring.  Of  material  both  herbaceous  and  woody 
there  is  ample  and  in  every  garden  there  is  room  for 
improvement.  The  central  truth  which  all  should 
realize  is  that  in  gardens  it  is  in  variety  not  in  uni- 
formity that  beauty  must  be  sought. 

In  the  woods  and  by  the  roadside  and  on  the  mar- 
gins of  swamps  a  number  of  native  woody  plants  put 
forth  their  blossoms  very  early  in  the  spring  and  es- 
cape the  notice  of  the  multitude  who  pass  them  by. 
The  Silver  Maple  (Acer  saccharinum)  in  New  England 
is  the  first  of  native  trees  to  open  its  flowers,  which  are 
heavily  clustered  on  the  naked  twigs  but  are  less  con- 
spicuous than  those  of  the  Red  Maple  (A.  rubrum), 
which  open  soon  afterward  and  are  red  or  orange-red 
and  sweetly  fragrant. 

The  American  Elm  ( Ulmus  americana)  is  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  of  all  trees,  with  its  massive  trunk 
dividing  a  few  feet  from  the  ground  into  several  or 
many  stout  ascending  stems,  which  branch  and  form  a 
rounded  or  flattened  wide-spreading  crown  in  which 
the  lesser  branches  are  more  or  less  pendent.  In  this 
tree,  too,  the  flowers  are  clustered  on  the  naked  twigs 
and  consist  of  little  more  than  pink  anthers  suspended 
on  elongating  thread-like  filaments.  In  the  Hazelnut 
(Corylus)  and  in  the  Alder  (Alnus),  the  female  flowers 
are  insignificant  but  the  male  flowers  are  borne  on 


SPRING-FLOWERING   TREES   AND   SHRUBS        177 

long,  cylindrical  catkins  which  are  clustered  together 
near  the  ends  of  the  twigs,  and  examination  will  show 
that  the  stamens  are  brightly  colored.  The  Pussy 
Willows  (Salix)  are  the  most  noticeable  and  most  ap- 
preciated of  plants  which  in  early  spring  produce 
their  flowers  in  catkins.  The  Poplars  (Populus)  also 
bear  their  blossoms  in  a  manner  similar  to  the  Wil- 
lows and  in  certain  species  the  stamens  are  hand- 
somely colored. 

But  before  the  earliest  Silver  Maple  or  Pussy  Wil- 
low shows  any  signs  of  welcoming  spring  by  putting 
forth  blossoms  the  Witch  Hazels  (Hamamelis)  have 
expanded  their  flowers  and  most  of  the  petals  have 
fallen.  This  small  group  of  shrubs  deserves  to  be 
much  more  widely  known,  for  it  possesses  attractions 
that  are  absolutely  unique  among  hardy  plants. 
The  native  H .  virginiana,  so  common  in  woodland  and 
copse,  is  the  last  of  shrubs  to  blossom  in  the  autumn, 
when  its  yellow  star-shaped  flowers  are  hidden  midst 
a  mass  of  yellow-tinted  foliage.  As  the  leaves  fall  the 
flowers  are  seen  to  better  advantage,  and  individual 
bushes  may  be  found  in  December  with  a  few  odd 
flowers  bravely  facing  the  first  strong  blasts  of  winter. 

The  other  three  species  open  their  flowers  in  Jan- 
uary and  February,  when  the  twigs  are  bare  and  when 
snow  carpets  the  ground  and  all  around  is  dreary  and 


178  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

uninviting.  The  best  known  of  these  is  the  Japanese 
Witch  Hazel  (H.japonica),  so  abundant  in  the  woods 
of  the  Nikko  region  of  Japan  and  elsewhere  in  that 
land.  It  is  a  large  bush  from  twelve  to  fifteen  feet  high, 
with  many  stiff,  ascending-spreading  branches  and 
twiggy  shoots  and  smooth  leaves  like  those  of  the 
native  H.  virginiana.  The  star-shaped  flowers,  each 
with  five  long,  strap-like,  canary-yellow  petals,  sur- 
rounded by  a  calyx  which  is  wine-colored  on  the  in- 
side, are  fragrant  and  thickly  stud  the  shoots  and 
branches.  The  variety  arborea  is  distinguished  by  its 
more  golden-yellow  petals  and  more  richly  colored 
calyx  and  its  flowers  open  a  little  in  advance  of  those 
of  the  type. 

The  finest  of  the  genus  is  the  Chinese  H.  mollis, 
which  is  similar  in  habit  to  the  Japanese  kind  but  has 
larger  flowers  which  open  earlier  and  larger  leaves 
which  are  softly  hairy  on  the  underside.  This  shrub 
is  native  of  the  mountains  of  central  China  and,  al- 
though it  is  now  some  thirty-six  years  since  it  was  in- 
troduced to  cultivation  by  the  late  Charles  Maries, 
it  is  little  known  and  far  too  rarely  seen  in  gardens. 
A  few  years  ago  a  Witch  Hazel,  which  forms  thickets 
in  the  gravelly  beds  and  on  the  margins  of  streams  in 
southern  Missouri,  Arkansas,  and  Louisiana,  was 
recognized  as  a  new  species  and  named  H.  vernalis. 


SPRING-FLOWERING   TREES   AND   SHRUBS          179 

Some  small  plants  were  obtained  and  these  opened 
their  flowers  for  the  first  time  under  cultivation  in  the 
Arnold  Arboretum  on  January  15,  1913,  a  little  before 
those  of  its  Asiatic  relatives.  The  flowers  are  fra- 
grant and,  though  smaller,  are  more  freely  produced 
than  in  any  other  species.  The  inside  of  the  calyx 
is  wine-colored  as  in  the  Asiatic  species;  the  narrow 
petals  are  erect-spreading,  somewhat  undulate  with 
the  apex  inflexed,  usually  yellow,  often  golden,  and  in 
some  flowers  stained  with  wine  color.  The  leaves  re- 
semble those  of  the  common  American  Witch  Hazel 
but  are  more  hairy  and  are  often  somewhat  glauces- 
cent  on  the  under  surface.  Its  habit  is  stoloniferous 
(i.  e.,  it  suckers  freely)  and  in  this  respect  it  differs 
from  all  other  species.  The  plants  when  they  first 
flowered  were  not  more  than  two  and  a  half  feet  high; 
but  they  have  grown  much  since,  though  they  have 
not  attained  their  maximum  height,  which  is  said  to  be 
six  feet. 

These  Witch  Hazels  are  the  first  of  all  woody  plants 
to  blossom;  they  are  perfectly  hardy,  and  every  season, 
no  matter  how  inclement  the  weather,  put  forth  a 
wealth  of  flowers  from  the  twenties  of  January  to 
early  March.  Not  ony  are  they  excellent  subjects 
for  planting  in  parks  and  gardens  generally,  but  they 
are  particularly  valuable  for  town  gardens.  City 


180  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE    GARDEN 

smoke  does  not  affect  them  injuriously;  they  will  with- 
stand considerable  neglect  and  abuse  and  may  be  kept 
in  bounds  by  pruning.  It  is  passing  strange  that 
plants  so  useful  and  so  very  desirable  for  enlivening 
gardens  with  flowers  during  dull  winter  months 
should  have  received  so  scant  recognition. 

The  Spicebush  (Benzoin  aestivale)  and  Leatherwood 
(Dirca  palustris),  two  common  inhabitants  of  the 
thickets  and  swampy  woods  of  New  England  and  else- 
where on  the  Atlantic  seaboard,  are  among  the  first  of 
native  shrubs  to  open  blossoms.  The  Spicebush  is  a 
tall  shrub  with  moderately  stout  stems  and  twiggy 
branches  and  bears  innumerable  clusters  of  small  yel- 
low flowers.  The  Leatherwood  is  a  compact  bush  from 
three  to  five  feet  high,  and  much  more  in  diameter,  and 
has  pale  yellow,  bell-shaped  flowers. 

A  number  of  our  earliest  flowering  shrubs  hail  from 
Europe  and,  with  conspicuous  flowers,  the  first  to 
open  are  the  Heath  (Erica  earned)  and  the  Mezereon 
(Daphne  mezereum).  The  former  opens  its  little  pink 
urns  in  quantity  even  before  all  the  snow  has  melted 
from  around  it.  This  and  its  white  form  (alba)  are 
compact  little  plants  from  six  inches  to  a  foot  tall  and  are 
absolutely  hardy  and  easily  grown,  provided  they  be 
planted  in  positions  fully  exposed  to  the  sun  and  air. 
The  Mezereon  is  a  woodland  shrub  but  when  once 


SPRING-FLOWERING   TREES   AND   SHRUBS         181 

established  thrives  in  the  open  border.  It  is  a  sturdy 
bush  seldom  exceeding  four  feet  in  height  with  erect 
branches,  and  in  early  spring  its  twigs,  throughout 
their  entire  length,  are  covered  with  rose-colored 
or  in  case  of  the  variety  alba  with  white,  fragrant 
flowers. 

Very  beautiful,  too,  is  the  Garland-flower  (Daphne 
cneorum),  a  native  of  the  Caucasus.  This  is  a  low- 
growing  tufted  plant  not  exceeding  a  foot  in  height, 
but  densely  branched  and  with  gray-green  leaves 
and  terminal  rounded  clusters  of  rose-pink,  deli- 
ciously  scented  flowers.  The  charming  plant  blos- 
soms most  profusely  in  the  early  spring,  and  through 
the  summer  and  autumn  a  few  flowers  continue  to 
open.  Both  for  the  rockery  and  open  border  this  is 
a  delightful  subject. 

For  the  most  ornamental  of  early  spring-flowering 
shrubs  and  trees,  the  gardens  of  eastern  North  Amer- 
ica depend,  not  upon  native  nor  upon  European 
plants,  but  upon  those  of  China  and  Japan.  These 
lands,  too,  have  their  catkin-bearing  Willows,  Poplars, 
Alders,  and  Hazelnuts;  their  Elms,  Maples,  and 
other  plants  with  flowers  clustered  on  naked  twigs. 
They  have,  in  addition,  a  variety  of  shrubs  and  trees 
which  have  large  and  brightly  colored  flowers  that 
are  conspicuous  from  afar,  and  it  is  these  that  are 


182  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE  GARDEN 

found  most  commonly  in  our  gardens  and  that  we  all 
admire  so  much. 

Of  all  hardy  trees  Magnolias  have  the  largest 
flowers,  and  no  trees  are  more  beautiful  and  few  so 
amenable  to  cultivation.  Now,  Magnolias  are  con- 
fined to  this  country  east  of  the  Mississippi  Valley, 
to  eastern  Asia  and  to  the  Himalayas.  All  the  Amer- 
ican species  produce  their  flowers  at  the  same  time 
as  the  leaves  or  after  the  latter  are  fully  unfolded. 
A  similar  group  grows  in  the  forests  of  China  and 
Japan;  but,  in  addition,  there  are  species  native  of 
those  lands  which  bear  flowers  abundantly  on  the 
naked  shoots.  It  is  these  that  give  such  a  gorgeous 
display  of  blossoms  in  early  spring  and  are  everywhere 
so  highly  esteemed  in  gardens  and  parks.  Centuries 
before  their  introduction  to  western  lands  these 
plants  were  favorites  in  the  gardens  of  China  and 
Japan,  where  their  flowers  are  regarded  as  a  symbol 
of  candor  and  beauty. 

The  Yulan  (commonly  known  as  Magnolia  con- 
spicua,  but  correctly  as  M.  denudatd)  is  authentically 
known  to  have  been  cultivated  in  China  since  about 
618  A.  D.  The  white-flowered  form  of  the  Yulan 
was  introduced  to  English  gardens  in  1779,  and  is 
now  grown  everywhere  in  the  Occident.  It  grows 
wild  in  moist  woods  in  the  central  parts  of  China, 


SPRING-FLOWERING   TREES   AND   SHRUBS          183 

but  this  fact  has  only  recently  been  made  known. 
This  form,  however,  is  rare  in  a  wild  state  and  that 
most  usually  met  has  rosy  or  reddish-pink  flowers. 
This  variety  has  likewise  been  long  cultivated  in 
China  and  also  in  Japan,  where  it  is  known  as  Sarasa- 
renge  and  in  Japanese  nursery  catalogues  as  M. 
obovata,V2LT.  discolor;  correctly,  it  should  be  M.  denudata, 
var.  purpurascens.  In  1900,  I  introduced  this  va- 
riety by  means  of  seeds  collected  from  wild  trees  in 
central  China,  but  as  yet  the  plants  have  not  borne 
flowers.  However,  I  strongly  suspect  that  it  has 
been  cultivated  in  western  gardens  for  a  much  longer 
period,  under  some  other  name,  and  its  identity 
obscured. 

Both  the  white  and  colored  varieties  of  the  Yulan 
are  trees  fifty  feet  tall,  with  a  trunk  eight  feet  in 
girth,  and  have  ascending  and  spreading  branches. 
Such  trees  I  have  seen  in  the  forests  of  central  China 
laden  with  thousands  of  flowers,  and  the  spectacle 
they  presented  will  never  be  forgotten.  In  western 
gardens  examples  of  the  white  variety  from  twenty  to 
twenty-five  feet  tall  are  known,  and  fine  specimens 
are  common  in  the  gardens  of  eastern  North  America 
where  the  Yulan  is  a  very  popular  tree. 

The  second  species  to  be  introduced  to  our  gardens 
was  the  Purple-flowered  Magnolia  (usually  known  as 


184  ARISTOCRATS   OF   THE    GARDEN 

M.  obovata,  M.  purpurea  or  M.  discolor,  but  correctly 
as  M.  liliflora),  which  reached  England  in  1790.  This, 
like  the  Yulan,  has  long  been  cultivated  in  China  and 
Japan,  but  it  has  not  yet  been  authoritatively  re- 
ported in  a  wild  state.  It  is  a  much  less  hardy  plant 
than  the  Yulan  and  appears  to  be  always  a  shrub.  In 
this  country  it  is  well  known  and  thrives  in  gardens 
south  of  Philadelphia.  The  flowers  are  dark  wine-red 
and  very  handsome.  Under  cultivation  in  Europe 
several  hybrids  between  M.  denudata  and  M.  liliflora 
have  been  raised.  The  oldest  and  best  known  of 
these  hybrids  is  Soulangeana,  with  flowers  suffused 
with  rose.  This  is  a  hardy  and  vigorous-growing 
tree  and  some  very  fine  examples  are  known  in  this 
country.  Others  of  these  hybrids  are  rustica  rubra, 
with  deep  rose-colored  flowers;  and  Lennei,  which 
originated  in  Italy,  has  rich  crimson-purple  flowers, 
and  blossoms  late.  Both  are  strong-growing,  free- 
flowering  plants. 

In  1862,  Dr.  George  R.  Hall,  on  his  return  from 
Japan,  brought  with  him  and  handed  over  to  Mr.  S. 
B.  Parsons,  at  Flushing,  L.  I.,  a  collection  of  plants  that 
have  proved  of  immense  value  to  gardens.  Among 
the  many  good  things  was  a  Magnolia,  which  Parsons 
afterward  distributed  as  M.  Halleana  to  commemo- 
rate the  name  of  its  introducer.  Unfortunately,  how- 


SPRING-FLOWERING   TREES   AND   SHRUBS         185 

ever,  it  had  earlier  received  the  name  of  stellata,  and 
that  had  to  take  precedence.  This  M.  stellata  is  the 
first  of  all  Magnolias  to  open  its  blossoms  and  is  al- 
ways a  broad  and  shapely  shrub  growing  eight  to 
twelve  or  fifteen  feet  high  and  more  in  diameter;  the 
star-shaped,  snow-white  flowers  are  smaller  than 
those  of  other  species  but  are  borne  in  such  profusion 
as  to  cover  the  bush  with  white.  This  is  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  and  most  satisfactory  of  all  spring- 
flowering  shrubs  and  is  extremely  hardy.  There  is 
also  a  variety  (rosed),  with  delicate  pink  flowers, 
which  makes  a  lovely  companion  to  the  type.  A 
fourth  species  (M.  kobus)  also  hails  from  Japan,  wjiere 
it  is  common  in  the  forests  on  the  mountains  through- 
out the  greater  part  of  that  land.  The  southern  and 
typical  form  is  a  large  bush  or  low  tree,  but  the  north- 
ern form  (var.  borealis)  is  a  shapely  tree  from  sixty  to 
seventy-five  feet  tall  with  a  smooth  trunk  six  feet  in 
girth.  This  variety,  borealis,  was  introduced  in  1876, 
by  Mr.  W.  S.  Clark  and  trees  raised  from  the  original 
seeds  are  now  thirty  feet  tall  and  have  broad  pyramid- 
ate  crowns.  It  flowered  for  the  first  time  in  cultiva- 
tion in  April,  1899,  in  the  garden  of  Professor 
Sargent,  Brookline,  Mass.,  but  the  blossoms  were 
sparse.  In  subsequent  years  it  has  flowered  in  many 
gardens  and  much  more  profusely,  and  it  is  the  most 


186  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE    GARDEN 

free-growing  of  all  members  of  its  group.  The  pure 
white  cup-shaped  blooms  are  smaller  than  those  of  the 
Yulan.  There  are  other  species  of  Magnolia  which 
flower  on  the  naked  twigs,  but  of  these  only  two  are  in 
cultivation  and  only  one,  the  Himalayan  M.  Camp- 
bellii,  has  blossomed.  This  has  rose-colored  flowers, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  gorgeous  of  all  flowering  trees 
but,  unfortunately,  it  is  less  hardy  than  any  other 
member  of  its  group. 

Magnolias  grow  naturally  in  moist,  rich  woods 
and,  although  they  will  withstand  considerable  hard- 
ship and  abuse,  the  best  results  are  obtained  when 
they  are  protected  from  strong  winds  and  are  planted 
in  deep  soil  rich  in  humus.  In  northern  gardens 
the  best  time  to  transplant  Magnolias  is  late  in  the 
spring.  They  may  also  be  moved  successfully  about 
the  end  of  August  or  beginning  of  September,  but 
at  either  season  they  must  not  be  allowed  to  suffer 
from  lack  of  water  and  it  is  advisable  to  mulch 
them  with  well-decayed  manure. 

A  favorite  shrub  in  the  gardens  of  China  and 
Japan  is  the  La-mei-hwa,  widely  known  as  Chim- 
onanthus  fragrans  but  correctly  as  Meratia  praecox. 
This  plant  has  fragrant,  pale  yellow,  saucer-shaped 
flowers  stained  with  wine  color  at  the  base,  and  these 
are  freely  borne  on  the  naked  shoots.  It  is  not  hardy 


SPRING-FLOWERING   TREES   AND    SHRUBS          187 

in  New  England,  but  south  of  Washington,  D.  C., 
it  thrives.  Like  many  other  plants  cultivated  in 
Chinese  and  Japanese  gardens,  this  shrub  is  a  native 
of  central  China  where  it  grows  naturally  on  cliffs  and 
in  rocky  places. 

For  gardens  south  of  Philadelphia  the  rambling 
Jasminum  nudiflomm,  with  c  ear  yellow  flowers 
on  naked  shoots,  is  a  lovely  old  plant.  It  is  a  native 
of  northern  China  where  also  it  is  frequently  culti- 
vated, and  is  one  of  the  plants  we  owe  to  the  labors  of 
Robert  Fortune,  who  sent  it  to  the  Royal  Horticul- 
tural Society  in  1844. 

In  China  and  Japan,  except  the  colder  parts, 
the  first  flowers  to  open  on  deciduous  trees  are 
those  of  the  Ume  (Prunus  mume),  generally  known 
as  the  Japanese  Apricot,  and  those  familiar  with  the 
porcelains  of  the  Far  East  will  appreciate  it  as  the 
Plum  Blossom  so  often  employed  in  design.  This 
plant  is  wild  in  central  and  western  China,  but  it 
has  been  cultivated  in  all  but  the  colder  parts  of  that 
land  from  time  immemorial  and  was  from  China  in- 
troduced to  Japan  by  Buddhist  priests  more  than  one 
thousand  years  ago. 

In  Tokyo  and  many  other  places  in  Japan  there 
are  famous  "Plum  Gardens"  which  are  a  source  of 
great  attraction  when  the  trees  are  in  blossom. 


188  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE    GARDEN 

At  the  village  of  Tsuki-gase,  some  twenty-five  miles 
from  the  old  eighth  century  capital  of  Nara,  there  is  a 
line  of  Ume  trees  for  upward  of  two  miles  alongside  a 
small  stream.  The  delicately  fragrant  flowers  are 
white,  pink,  and  even  deep  rose,  and  are  either  single 
or  double;  the  shoots  are  smooth  and  green  and  the 
leaves  roundish  and  light  green  in  color.  Normally 
it  is  a  low  bushy  tree  some  twelve  to  fifteen  feet  tall, 
with  a  thin  trunk  and  spreading  branches;  but  under 
cultivation,  forms  have  originated  in  which  the 
branches  are  pendent  or  quite  erect  (fastigiate). 

In  both  China  and  Japan  it  is  much  grown  in 
pots  as  a  dwarfed  bush  and  in  this  condition  flowers 
profusely.  Cut  branches  with  flowers  are  abund- 
antly used  for  house  decoration — so  much  so,  in  fact, 
that  it  is  safe  to  say  that  in  season  where  it  is  grown  in 
China  and  Japan  no  temple,  shrine,  or  dwelling — be 
it  castle,  palace,  or  peasant's  hut — is  without  its  sprig 
of  Ume.  Unfortunately,  this  plant  is  not  hardy  in 
the  colder  parts  of  North  America,  but  south  of 
Philadelphia  it  is  not  uncommon  in  gardens.  It 
deserves  to  be  more  widely  known,  and  as  a  forcing 
shrub  merits  the  attention  of  florists. 

The  common  Peach  (Prunus  Persica)  is  a  native  of 
central  China  and  as  bearing  the  finest  of  all  the  stone 
fruits  needs  no  mention  here.  But  cultivated  in  the 


SPRING-FLOWERING   TREES   AND   SHRUBS          189 

gardens  of  China  and  Japan  are  a  number  of  varieties 
with  large  and  double  flowers,  in  white,  pink,  rose- 
red,  and  bizarre  and  strikingly  handsome.  From 
time  to  time  these  have  been  introduced  into  our  gar- 
dens, yet  one  rarely  meets  with  them,  beautiful 
though  they  are.  The  explanation  is  that,  like  the 
parent  stock,  they  are  short-lived  trees;  but  they  are 
readily  renewed  by  budding  or  grafting  and  our  nur- 
serymen ought  to  be  able  to  keep  our  gardens  supplied. 
In  addition  to  the  common  Peach  two  other 
species  grow  wild  in  China.  One  of  these  (P. 
Davidiana)  is  confined  to  the  northern  parts  of  that 
country  and  in  the  Arnold  Arboretum  it  is  the  first 
of  its  class  to  blossom.  Often  the  flowers  get  dam- 
aged by  frosts  in  the  changeable  climate  of  New  Eng- 
land. The  tree  is  of  slender  growth  with  thin  as- 
cending-spreading branches,  and  there  are  two  forms, 
one  with  white  and  another  with  pink  blossoms. 
The  other  species  (P.  mirct)  is  a  new  discovery  which 
I  made  in  1910,  on  the  Chino-Thibetan  borderland. 
The  flowers  are  unknown  to  me  but  probably  re- 
semble those  of  the  common  Peach.  This  new  species 
is  remarkable  in  having  a  very  small,  flattened-oval 
and  perfectly  smooth  stone;  its  value,  if  any,  as  a 
new  fruit  has  yet  to  be  made  known,  but  for  the 
hybridist  it  certainly  has  attractions. 


190  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE   GARDEN 

The  common  Apricot  (Prunus  Armeniaca),  its 
specific  name  notwithstanding,  is  also  native  of  north- 
ern China  and,  like  its  allies,  is  not  only  a  valuable 
fruit  tree  but  is  likewise  a  handsome  and  ornamental 
flowering  plant.  This,  too,  has  been  long  cultivated 
in  the  Far  East,  and  in  Japan  varieties  differing  in 
habit  and  color  of  flowers  have  originated.  The  type 
and  its  varieties  are  all  very  hardy  and  in  New  Eng- 
land gardens  they  are  often  cultivated  under  the 
erroneous  name  of  P.  mume. 

In  Japan  this  Apricot  is  known  as  Ansu  and  the 
fruit  is  pickled  and  is  served  as  an  appetizer;  but 
under  the  same  name  the  Japanese  cultivate  another 
species  (P.  ansu),  which  is  distinguished  by  the  blade 
of  the  leaf  tapering  to  a  narrow  wedge  at  the  base. 
This  species  is  native  of  Korea  and  has  ascending- 
spreading  branches  and  rigid  shoots.  In  Japan 
forms  with  single  and  double  white  and  pink  flowers 
are  grown. 

In  Mandshuria  a  third  species  of  Apricot  (P.  mand- 
schurica)  grows  wild.  This  tree  is  distinct,  with  its 
light  gray  rather  scaly  bark,  wide-spreading  crown, 
and  spiny  inner  branches.  The  flowers  are  large, 
white  or  nearly  so. 

Of  Cherries  proper  the  next  chapter  treats,  but 
of  several  cognate  plants  it  is  convenient  to  speak 


SPRING-FLOWERING   TREES   AND    SHRUBS          191 

here.  All  are  twiggy  bushes  of  rather  low  stature, 
are  natives  of  China,  and  are  among  the  earliest  of 
all  shrubs  to  blossom.  Two  of  these  (Prunus  japon- 
ica  and  P.  glandulosa)  are  very  doubtfully  distinct 
as  species,  but  the  leaves  are  much  broader  in  P. 
japonica,  and  rounded  and  somewhat  heart-shaped 
at  the  base,  whereas  in  P.  glandulosa  they  are  nar- 
rowed at  the  base.  Both  are  twiggy  shrubs  from  three 
to  five  feet  high,  and  there  are  forms  with  white, 
pink  and  single,  or  double  flowers.  They  are  old 
inhabitants  of  our  gardens  and  have  long  been  culti- 
vated in  Japan  but  are  not  native  of  that  country. 
In  northern  and  central  China  they  are  common 
wild  plants,  and  so,  too,  is  P.  tomentosa,  also  commonly 
cultivated  in  Japan  but  not  indigenous  there.  This, 
likewise,  is  a  fairly  old  denizen  of  western  gardens. 
It  is  a  spreading,  extremely  hardy  shrub  of  moderate 
height  and  has  red  flower-stalks  and  calyx  and  pure 
white  petals  which  are  pink  in  bud.  The  short- 
stalked,  Cherry-like  fruit  is  scarlet,  ripens  in  June, 
and  is  very  palatable. 

The  last  of  the  Prunus  I  shall  mention  and  the 
most  beautiful  of  the  four  is  P.  triloba,  also  a  native 
of  northern  China.  The  double  form  (plena)  is 
commonly  cultivated  in  Peking  gardens  and  is  a 
general  favorite  in  western  gardens  to  which  it  was 


192  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

introduced  in  1857.  The  flowers  of  this  form  are 
large,  pink,  and  very  freely  produced  on  the  naked 
twigs.  More  beautiful,  however,  is  the  type  with  its 
wealth  of  purest  pink,  single  flowers.  This  wild 
form  was  sent  from  Peking  to  the  Arnold  Arboretum 
by  Dr.  E.  Bretschneider  in  1882,  but  is  much  too 
rarely  seen  in  gardens. 

Among  spring-flowering  shrubs  yellow  is  a  com- 
mon color  but  in  none  is  it  purer  or  more  vivid  than 
in  the  Chinese  Forsythias  or  Golden  Bells.  These 
lovely  shrubs  are  universal  favorites  in  northern 
lands  and  well  do  they  deserve  the  honor.  Of  the  two 
species  (Forsythia  suspensa  and  F.  viridissima),  the  older 
and  better  known  in  gardens  is  F.  suspensa,  with  its 
abundant  clear  yellow  bells ;  but  better  than  either  is  the 
hybrid  between  them  (F.  intermedia),  which  has  larger 
and  richer  colored  flowers.  There  are  several  other  hy- 
brids and  forms,  all  of  them  valuable  garden  plants,  but 
the  finest  is  the  form  spectabilis.  These  Forsythias  are 
strong-growing  shrubs,  with  arching  pendent  branches 
which  overlap  one  another  and  form  an  impenetrable 
tangled  mass.  They  are  sun-  and  loam-loving  plants 
and  are  seen  to  best  advantage  when  planted  where 
they  have  lots  of  room,  and  preferably  on  a  slope, 
where  they  may  develop  unmolested.  On  such  a 
slope  in  the  Arnold  Arboretum  there  is  a  tangle  of 


SPRING-FLOWERING   TREES   AND   SHRUBS          193 

Forsythias  about  seventy-five  feet  long  and  as  much 
through  and,  as  a  feast  of  color  and  beauty  in  spring, 
is  worth  coming  a  long,  long  way  to  view.  Any 
pruning  considered  necessary  should  be  done  imme- 
diately the  flowers  have  fallen  and,  incidentally,  this 
is  true  for  all  spring-  and  summer-flowering  deciduous 
trees  and  shrubs. 

A  few  years  ago,  in  1897  to  be  exact,  a  third 
species  of  Forsythia  was  discovered  in  Albania  and 
was  named  F.  europaea.  This  plant  was  introduced 
into  Kew  Gardens  in  1899,  and  bids  fair  to  grow  much 
taller  than  its  Chinese  relatives  and  their  progeny. 
It  is  upright  in  habit  and  in  consequence  very  dis- 
tinct in  appearance.  The  flowers  are  pale  canary 
yellow  and  the  plant  is  a  very  hardy  and  interest- 
ing addition  to  the  list  of  spring-flowering  shrubs; 
but  those  who  have  only  room  in  their  gardens  for 
one  Forsythia  and  want  the  best  available  should 
plant  the  hybrid  F.  intermedia  or  its  form  spectabilis. 

Among  the  Bush  Honeysuckles  (Lonicera),  whose 
all-round  value  for  our  gardens  has  been  repeatedly 
emphasized  in  these  pages,  there  are  species  such  as 
L.  fragrantissima  and  L.  Standishii  which  open  their 
blossoms  at  the  first  breath  of  spring.  Both  are 
compact  shrubs  growing  from  four  to  eight  feet  tall 
and  more  in  diameter,  and  have  pale  yellowish-white 


194  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE    GARDEN 

sweetly  fragrant  flowers  which  are  followed  by  scar- 
let fruits. 

Rhododendrons,  including  Azaleas,  will  be  dealt 
with  in  a  subsequent  chapter  but  it  is  permissible 
to  mention  here  Rhododendron  mucronulatum  and  R. 
dahuricum.  These  are  deciduous  shrubs  growing  from 
four  to  eight  feet  high  and  are  the  earliest  of  their  class  to 
blossom.  The  flowers  are  pink  or  rose  in  the  former, 
and  rose-purple  in  R.  dahuricum.  They  are  natives  of 
cold  regions  of  Mandshuria  and  Korea,  and  in  New 
England  the  flowers  are  often  nipped  by  late  frosts. 
Both  are  sparsely  branching,  and  to  obtain  the  best 
effects  they  should  be  massed  together  thickly  in  a 
situation  exposed  to  the  air  but  protected  from  cut- 
ting winds  and  the  early  morning  sun. 


CHAPTER  XI 

JAPANESE  CHERRIES  AND  ASIATIC  CRAB- 
APPLES 

MANY  OF  THESE  ARE  ALREADY  WELL  KNOWN  AND  YET 
RARELY  PLANTED   IN  OUR  GARDENS — THE  NOMENCLA- 
TURE IS  HERE  SET  RIGHT  AND  THEIR  IDENTIFICATION 
IS   MADE   EASY 

THE  group  of  plants  now  to  be  considered 
is    not    exceeded    in    beauty    and    hardi- 
ness by  any  other,  and  yet  its  members  are 
comparatively  rarely  seen  in  American  gardens.     A 
few  are  fairly  well  known  to  older  garden  lovers  and 
here  and  there  in  city  parks,  like  those  of  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  several  may  be  seen  in  all  their  beauty.     But 
truly  there  should  be  no  garden,  even  a  suburban 
garden,  without  its  Flowering  Cherry  and  its  Crab- 
apple  tree. 

When  I  think  of  the  popularity  certain  plants  of 
much  less  lasting  value  have  attained  I  cannot  help 
thinking  that  it  is  want  of  knowledge  and  not  want  of 
appreciation  that  has  kept  in  the  background  the 
extremely  ornamental  plants  with  which  this  chapter 
deals.  If  any  reader  will  visit  the  Arnold  Arboretum 

195 


196  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

in  late  April  and  May,  and  see  the  collection  of  these 
plants  in  blossom,  he  will  depart  hungry  for  them 
and  will  not  rest  content  until  one  or  more  be  growing 
in  his  own  garden. 

In  the  cooler  parts  of  the  temperate  regions  of 
western  lands  there  is  no  more  beautiful  sight  than 
the  Apple  orchards  in  full  blossom  in  the  spring  unless 
it  be  the  same  orchards  in  autumn  laden  with  ruddy 
fruit.  But  the  utilitarian  is  apt  to  stifle  the  aesthetic 
spirit  in  so  far  as  this  and  other  familiar  sights  are 
concerned.  The  common  Plum  and  the  common 
Cherry  suffer  in  the  same  way,  yet  the  winsome  beauty 
of  their  flowers  is  undeniable.  Again,  an  orchard  of 
Peach  trees  in  bloom  is  wondrously  pretty  though  the 
trees  have  not  the  picturesque  appearance  of  aged 
Apple  trees. 

However,  if  familiarity  has  dulled  spontaneous 
enthusiasm  for  the  floral  charms  of  these  indispens- 
able fruit  trees  none,  when  taxed  with  the  question, 
will  attempt  to  deny  their  effective  beauty.  It  is  with 
the  near  relatives — the  brothers,  sisters,  and  first- 
cousins — of  these  familiar  fruit  trees  that  I  am  about  to 
treat  here,  and  since  the  fruits  they  produce  have  no 
comestible  value  we  can  drink  in  their  charms  un- 
influenced by  the  pernicious  alloy  of  utilitarianism. 
But  do  not  misunderstand  me:  I  am  not  denying  the 


CHERRIES   AND   CRAB  APPLES  197 

indispensable  value  of  our  fruit  trees  as  such  nor  their 
extensive  and  extended  culture.  Quite  the  contrary. 
But  the  creed  of  the  true  horticulturist  is  founded  on 
that  old  Biblical  truism — "man  cannot  live  by  bread 
alone." 

Any  attempt  to  portray  in  words  that  marvelous 
floral  spectacle  known  in  Japan  as  the  Cherry  Festival 
fails  lamentably.  It  must  be  seen  to  be  ap- 
preciated, but  no  language  can  exaggerate  the  beauty 
of  the  Japanese  Cherries.  Readers  who  have  visited 
Japan  and  have  basked  in  the  loveliness  of  the  Cherry 
blossoms  must  have  yearned  deeply  to  possess  some 
of  the  trees.  Such  feeling  is  natural.  We  should 
have  these  Japanese  Cherries  in  our  gardens  and  there 
is  no  valid  reason  why  here  in  eastern  North  America 
we  should  not  have  our  own  Cherry  festival,  for  the 
trees  are  perfectly  hardy  and  thrive  here.  In  the 
Arnold  Arboretum  the  few  large  examples  we  have  pro- 
duce a  wealth  of  flowers  each  and  every  season. 

THE  CHERRIES 

Of  flowering  Cherries  the  Japanese  recognize  a 
hundred  or  more  varieties  with  white,  yellow,  pure 
pink  to  rose-colored  blossoms.  Some  are  small  shrubs, 
others  large  trees  with  wide-spreading  crowns; 
some  have  pendent  and  others  quite  erect  branches. 


198  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE    GARDEN 

All  are  entrancingly  beautiful.  Cherry  trees  grow 
wild  in  the  woods  and  thickets  throughout  the  length 
and  breadth  of  Japan  and  they  are  everywhere 
planted  in  vast  numbers — in  temple  and  castle 
,  grounds,  in  park  and  garden,  in  the  streets  of  the 
cities  and  alongside  the  highways,  by  pond  and  by 
river-side.  At  Koganei,  a  village  some  ten  miles  from 
Tokyo,  there  is  a  three-mile  avenue  of  Cherry  trees, 
planted  in  1735  by  command  of  the  Shogun  Yoshi- 
mune.  Many  of  the  trees  are  from  sixty  to  seventy- 
five  feet  tall,  with  trunks  from  ten  to  twelve  feet  in 
girth,  and  crowns  from  fifty  to  sixty  feet  through,  and 
when  in  full  flower  the  scene  presented  is  a  never-to- 
be-forgotten  one. 

As  one  result  of  its  recent  expedition  to  Japan  the 
Arnold  Arboretum  has  now  growing  a  collection  of 
more  than  seventy  varieties  of  these  Cherries  and  in  a 
few  years  the  American  public  will  have  an  opportun- 
ity of  appreciating  the  attractive  charms  of  these 
plants.  Meanwhile,  the  following  kinds  of  proven 
merit  should  be  grown  by  all  who  love  a  hardy  plant. 

The  first  of  these  Cherries  to  open  its  blossoms  is 
Prunus  subhirtella,  the  Higan-sakura  or  Spring  Cherry 
of  the  Japanese.  This  is  a  low  bushy  tree,  rarely 
more  than  from  eighteen  to  twenty  feet  tall,  with  thin, 
ascending-spreading  branches  and  a  dense  mass  of 


CHERRIES   AND    CRAB  APPLES  199 

twiggy  branchlets,  the  whole  forming  a  flattened  or  flat- 
tened-oval  crown  from  twenty  to  thirty  feet  through. 
The  flowers  are  silvery  pink  and  are  produced  in  such 
profusion  as  to  hide  completely  the  twigs  and 
branches.  This  Cherry  was  introduced  to  cultiva- 
tion by  the  Arnold  Arboretum  in  1894. 

The  Weeping  Cherry  (P.  subhirtella,  var.  penduld) 
has  flowers  similar  to  the  foregoing  to  which  it  is 
very  closely  related,  but  it  is  a  much  larger  tree,  growing 
from  sixty  to  seventy  feet  tall  with  a  trunk  from  ten 
to  twelve  feet  in  girth,  and  massive  spreading  limbs 
dividing  into  branches  which  curve  downward  and 
into  slender  whip-like  pendent  shoots.  It  was  intro- 
duced into  cultivation  by  Philip  Franz  von  Siebold  who 
secured  plants  for  his  nursery  at  Leiden,  Holland, 
from  Japan  about  1863.  It  is  a  long-lived  tree  but 
I  have  never  seen  a  good  example  in  the  Occident. 
In  Japan,  and  especially  in  the  temple  grounds,  mag- 
nificent specimens  are  common  and  there  is  no  more 
graceful  or  beautiful  tree  than  this  Weeping  Cherry. 
The  Japanese  called  it  Shidare  (Hanging)  or  Ito- 
zakura  (Thread  Cherry)  on  account  of  its  very  slender, 
whip-like  pendent  branchlets. 

The  Cherry  so  abundantly  grown  in  and  around 
the  city  of  Tokyo  and  whose  season  of  blossoming  is 
made  the  occasion  of  a  national  holiday  is  the  Yosh- 


200  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

ino-sakura  (P.  yedoensis).  This  is  a  large,  quick- 
growing  tree  which  at  its  best  is  from  forty-five  to  fifty 
feet  tall  with  a  trunk  from  six  to  eight  feet  in  girth 
and  massive  spreading  branches  forming  a  rounded 
crown  from  sixty  to  seventy-five  feet  through.  The 
fragrant  flowers  are  larger  than  those  of  the  preceding 
two  Cherries,  and  vary  in  color  from  pure  pink  to 
white.  If  crowded  together  the  trees  grow  taller, 
but  the  crowns  are  narrow  and  much  less  shapely. 
It  was  introduced  into  the  Arnold  Arboretum  in  1902, 
from  Tokyo,  and  the  seedlings  have  grown  very 
rapidly. 

The  most  beautiful  of  all  the  wild  species  of  Asiatic 
Cherries  is  P.  serrulata,  var.  sachalinensis,  better 
known  as  P.  Sargentii.  This  is  a  native  of  the 
northern  and  colder  parts  of  Japan  and  has  large, 
pink  to  rose-colored  flowers  and  the  young  unfolding 
leaves  are  a  ruddy  brown.  It  is  a  large  and  long- 
lived  tree  and  the  avenue  at  Koganei  mentioned  pre- 
viously is  of  this  species  and  its  varieties.  Dr. 
William  Sturgis  Bigelow  sent  seeds  from  Japan  to  the 
Arnold  Arboretum  in  1889,  and  trees  raised  from  these 
seeds  are  now  twenty-five  feet  tall  with  trunks  four 
feet  in  girth  and  crowns  thirty  feet  through.  Nearly 
all  the  Japanese  Cherries  with  double  rose-colored 
flowers  are  forms  of  this  species,  and  it  is  the  stock 


CHERRIES   AND   CRABAPPLES  201 

on  which  all  of  that  class  should  be  grafted  or  budded 
in  order  to  make  them  long-lived  trees  in  this  climate. 

One  of  the  loveliest  of  these  rose-colored  Cherries 
with  double  flowers  is  known  in  western  nurseries 
as  "James  H.  Veitch."  The  Japanese  name  for  it 
is  Fugenzo  and  there  is  also  a  white  counterpart 
(albo-rosea)  which  is  styled  Shirofugen.  These  two 
are  distinguished  from  all  others  of  this  class  in  hav- 
ing two  tiny  green  and  folded  leaves  in  the  centre  of 
the  majority  of  their  flowers  as  is  the  case  in  the 
double-flowered  form  of  the  European  P.  Cerasus. 

Two  other  Japanese  Cherries  are  P.  Sieboldii  and 
P.  Lannesiana.  The  first  named  has  rose-pink, 
double  or  semi-double  flowers  and  its  leaves  are 
clothed  with  soft  hairs.  In  nurseries  it  is  sold  as 
"Watered"  and  as  "Naden."  The  other  species  has 
many  aliases  and  in  its  different  forms  is  sold  as 
P.  pseudo-cerasus  and  as  P.  serrulata,  names,  however, 
to  which  it  has  no  proper  right,  and  which  have  proved 
a  great  bugbear  and  hindrance  to  our  proper  appre- 
ciation of  the  garden  varieties  of  Japanese  Cherries 
generally.  In  typical  P.  Lannesiana  the  flowers  are 
pinkish  but  its  wild  form  has  pure  white  blossoms. 
All  the  numerous  forms  of  this  Cherry  have  fragrant 
flowers  and  they  are  mostly  white  or  pale  pink.  One 
sort  (Grandiflora  or  Ukon)  has  clear  yellow  flowers 


202  ARISTOCRATS   OF   THE   GARDEN 

and  in  another  (Gioiko)  the  color  is  yellow  with  a  green 
band  down  each  petal.  In  both  the  flowers  are 
double.  Prunus  Sieboldii  and  P.  Lannesiana  together 
with  their  forms  are  trees  from  twenty  to  thirty  feet 
tall,  with  wide-branching  heads,  and  in  Japan  they 
grow  rapidly  but  are  not  long  lived. 

In  the  Occident  we  have  not  been  very  successful 
in  cultivating  the  double-flowered  forms  of  these 
Japanese  Cherries  and  from  information  gained  dur- 
ing my  recent  visit  to  Japan  I  am  convinced  that  our 
want  of  success  heretofore  has  been  due  to  the  fact 
that  for  our  climate  they  have  always  been  grafted 
on  the  wrong  stock. 

All  the  single-flowered  sorts  of  these  Japanese 
Cherries  fruit  freely  with  us  and  should  be  increased 
by  seeds,  for  seedling  trees  of  these  Cherries  grow 
more  freely  and  more  satisfactorily  than  those  raised 
by  other  means.  All  the  double  or  semi-double 
flowered  kinds  should  be  grafted  or  budded  on  P. 
sermlata,  var.  sachalinensis.  If  this  be  followed  I 
make  bold  to  say  that  these  Cherries  will  thrive  as 
well,  grow  as  freely,  and  live  as  long  as  they  do  in 
Japan. 

One  other  species  of  Japanese  Cherry  deserves 
mention  and  that  is  P.  incisa,  which  is  abundant 
on  the  lower  slopes  of  Fuji-san  and  the  immediate 


CHERRIES  AND  CRABAPPLES          203 

vicinity,  but  is  confined  to  those  regions.  It  is  a 
bush  or  small  tree  from  five  to  thirty  feet  tall  with 
ascending  and  spreading  thin  branches  and  twiggy 
branchlets  and  pale  pink  to  pure  white  flowers. 
This  Cherry  blossoms  profusely  in  a  small  state  and 
is  the  only  kind  the  Japanese  dwarf  and  grow  in  pots, 
and  on  this  account  they  designate  it  the  Mame- 
zakura  (Dwarf  Cherry). 

All  the  Japanese  Cherries  make  excellent  specimens 
on  lawns  where  they  are  seen  to  good  advantage. 
The  smaller  growing  kinds  may  be  massed  together 
for  telling  effect  whilst  for  avenue  trees  P.  serrulata, 
var.  sachalinensis  and  P.  yedoensis  cannot  be  sur- 
passed. They  thrive  best  in  a  light  loamy  soil  but 
like  all  their  kin  they  are  subject  to  attacks  of  scale 
insects.  These  pests  may  easily  be  kept  down  and 
the  trees  maintained  in  good  health  by  spraying  in 
late  winter  with  lime-sulphur  (one  gallon  to  eight 
gallons  of  water)  or  with  miscible  oil  (one  gallon  to 
fourteen  gallons  of  water). 

THE    CRABAPPLES 

In  horticultural  and  botanical  literature  the  Crab- 
apples  are  often  referred  to  as  "Pyrus  (something)" 
but  nowadays  it  is  customary  to  speak  of  them  under 
the  generic  title  of  Malus  and  to  restrict  that  of  Pyrus 


204  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

to  the  Pears,  and  this  is  followed  here.  My  inten- 
tion is  to  tell  here  of  the  Crabapples  of  eastern  Asia, 
but  there  are  also  several  very  beautiful  species  of 
Crabapple  native  of  this  country — as  for  example, 
M.  angustifolia,  M.  fusca,  M.  glaucescens,  M.  cor- 
onaria,  M.  ioensis  and  its  form,  known  as  the  Bechtel 
Crab,  which  has  large  and  fragrant  double  pink  flow- 
ers that  look  like  Roses  and  excite  the  interest  and  ad- 
miration of  all  beholders.  The  American  Crab- 
apples  blossom  later  than  their  Asiatic  relatives  and 
both  groups  deserve  the  widest  recognition. 

The  Siberian  (Malus  baccatd)  is  the  oldest  known  but 
one  of  the  Asiatic  Crabapples,  having  been  introduced 
into  Europe  in  1784.  It  is  a  tree  from  thirty  to  forty 
feet  tall,  with  stout,  spreading  branches  and  slender 
branchlets  which  form  a  broad  rounded  or  more  or 
less  oval  crown.  The  flowers  are  pure  white  and 
delightfully  fragrant  and  are  profusely  borne  in 
clusters;  the  fruits  are  small,  yellowish,  or  yellow- 
brown.  This  tree  is  widely  dispersed  in  the  cold  nor- 
thern parts  of  eastern  Siberia  and  extends  southward 
into  Mongolia,  Mandshuria,  and  extreme  northern 
China.  It  is  the  most  northern  of  its  class  and  the 
hardiest  of  all  species  of  Malus  and  for  this  reason 
ought  to  be  used  in  the  colder  parts  of  this  country  as 
a  stock  for  the  common  Apple.  In  the  littoral  regions 


CHERRIES   AND    CRABAPPLES  205 

of  northeastern  Siberia,  in  Korea,  and  in  northern 
Japan,  this  species  is  represented  by  its  variety 
mandschurica  which  differs  in  certain  technical  points 
and  has  scarlet  fruit.  In  Korea  there  is  a  form 
(Jackii)  which  has  handsome,  relatively  large  dark 
red  fruit.  Under  cultivation  numerous  hybrids  be- 
tween Mains  baccata  and  the  common  Apple  and 
other  species  have  arisen  and  all  are  ornamental  in 
flower  and  exceedingly  beautiful  in  fruit.  They  are 
known  collectively  as  Siberian  Crabapples  but  many 
of  the  varieties  have  received  distinctive  names. 

The  oldest  known  of  the  Crabapples  is  the  Chinese 
M.  spectabilis  which  was  introduced  from  Canton  into 
England  in  1780.  It  is  cultivated  in  the  Imperial  gar- 
dens at  Peking  and  elsewhere  in  China,  but  has  not  yet 
been  reported  in  a  wild  state.  It  is  a  small  tree  from 
twenty  to  thirty  feet  tall  with  a  vase-shaped  crown 
made  up  of  numerous  rigid  ascending  branches  and 
short  branchlets.  The  flowers  are  pale  pink,  more 
or  less  semi-double  and  fragrant,  and  the  fruits  are 
yellow,  nearly  globose,  and  about  three  quarters  of 
an  inch  in  diameter.  The  habit  is  rather  stiff,  but 
this  old  denizen  of  gardens  with  its  wealth  of  clustered 
blossoms  is  strikingly  beautiful. 

A  lovely  Crabapple  bearing  in  season  its  pale  pink 
flowers  in  the  utmost  profusion  is  M.  Scheideckeri. 


206  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE    GARDEN 

This  is  also  a  small  tree,  loosely  pyramidal  in  habit 
and  of  hybrid  origin  and  one  of  its  parents  is  assumed 
to  be  M .  spectabilis. 

The  next  species  to  make  its  debut  in  this  country 
is  the  celebrated  Parkman  Crab  (M.  Halliand)  which 
was  sent  from  Japan  to  the  United  States  by  Dr. 
George  R.  Hall  in  1861,  and  first  cultivated  by  Francis 
Parkman,  the  historian,  in  his  garden  on  the  shores  of 
Jamaica  Pond,  Boston,  Mass.  This  is  a  tree-like 
shrub  with  a  broad,  bushy  crown  and  twiggy  branch- 
lets  and  rather  thick,  dark  green  leaves  deeply  tinged 
with  bronze  color  where  they  unfold.  The  flowers, 
each  on  a  long  slender  stalk,  are  borne  in  clusters  and 
are  bright  rose  color,  and  these  are  followed  by  pea- 
like  dark  greenish  red  fruit  which  ripen  very  late  in 
the  fall. 

In  a  family  so  beautiful  as  the  Crabapple  there  is 
room  for  divergence  of  opinion  as  to  which  is  the 
finest,  but  many  (of  which  I  am  one)  consider  the 
Parkman  Crab  the  most  winsome  of  all  the  Asiatic 
species.  The  type  has  flowers  single  or  nearly  so, 
but  there  is  a  form  (Parkmanii)  which  has  double 
or  semi-double  flowers.  This  lovely  plant  has  long 
been  a  favorite  in  the  gardens  of  the  flower-loving 
Japanese  who  call  it  the  "Kaido,"  but  like  many 
plants  cultivated  in  Japan  it  is  of  Chinese  origin. 


CHERRIES   AND    GRABAPPLES  207 

In  1904,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  discovering  it  growing 
wild  in  thickets  on  the  frontier  of  western  China  and 
Thibet  and  collected  seeds  from  which  plants  have 
been  successfully  raised. 

A  very  desirable  plant  is  M.  atrosanguinea  which 
is  a  hybrid  presumably  between  M.  Halliana  and 
M.  Sieboldii.  It  is  a  broad  shrub  growing  ten  feet 
or  more  high  with  thin  spreading  and  arching  branches 
and  rose-pink  flowers. 

Perhaps  the  best  known  of  the  Asiatic  Crabapples 
is  M.  floribunda,  which  was  introduced  about  1853, 
by  von  Siebold,  into  Leiden  in  Holland,  yet  its  native 
country  remains  unknown  to  this  day.  Present- 
day  Japanese  botanists  seem  unacquainted  with  this 
plant  and  both  they  and  Japanese  nurserymen  con- 
fuse it  with  the  Parkman  Crab,  and  during  my  trip 
in  Japan  I  never  met  with  it.  However,  since  our 
gardens  are  in  fortunate  possession  of  it  we  can  waive 
the  more  academic  question  of  its  habitat.  It 
is  a  broad,  round-topped,  tree-like  shrub  sometimes 
twenty-five  feet  tall,  and  as  much  in  diameter,  with 
slender  arching  and  pendent  branchlets.  The  clus- 
tered flowers  are  pure  white  when  expanded  and 
bright  rose  color  in  bud,  and  as  they  open  in  succes- 
sion the  contrast  is  singularly  beautiful.  The  fruit 
is  about  the  size  of  a  pea,  yellowish  or  yellow-brown 


208  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE    GARDEN 

and  long  persistent  but  not  attractive  except  to  birds 
which  appear  especially  fond  of  it. 

In  gardens  all  the  species  of  Malus  hybridize  freely 
and  the  group  offers  a  field  of  immense  interest  to 
those  who  will  breed  and  select  the  offspring.  Some 
years  ago  there  appeared  in  the  Arnold  Arboretum 
among  a  batch  of  presumed  seedlings  of  M.  flori- 
bunda  a  very  distinct  plant  which  has  been  named 
M.  Arnoldiana.  It  is  probably  a  hybrid  between  M. 
floribunda  and  M.  baccata,  but  whatever  its  origin 
it  is  certainly  one  of  the  most  lovely  of  all  Crabapples. 
The  habit  is  similar  to  that  of  M .  floribunda  but  the 
flowers  though  of  the  same  color  are  one  half  larger 
and  the  fruit,  too,  is  much  bigger.  A  friend  of  mine 
who  lives  at  Winchester,  Mass.,  has  a  fine  specimen 
of  this  hybrid  growing  under  the  lee  of  his  house 
and  no  one  has  yet  been  able  to  persuade  him  that 
there  is  any  other  kind  of  Crabapple  which  approxi- 
mates to  this  in  beauty. 

At  the  same  time  as  von  Siebold  introduced  the  gem 
M.  floribunda  he  also  introduced  another  Crabapple 
(M.  Sieboldiiy  better  known  as  M.  toringo).  This  is  a 
low  dense  shrub  of  sprawling  habit  with  lobed  leaves, 
small  flowers,  white  tinged  with  rose  in  color,  and 
small  yellow  fruit.  It  is  really  a  scrubby  form  of  a 
species  widely  distributed  in  Japan  and  horticultur- 


CHERRIES   AND    CRABAPPLES  209 

ally  inferior  to  its  real  type,  now  known  as  var. 
arborescens,  which  is  a  small  tree  with  ascending  and 
spreading  branches,  twiggy  branchlets,  and  fruit 
yellow  or  red  on  different  individuals.  Another 
variety  (calocarpa),  raised  from  seeds  sent  in  1890 
to  the  Arnold  Arboretum  from  Japan  by  Dr.  William 
Sturgis  Bigelow,  has  handsome  bright  red  fruits 
half  an  inch  in  diameter  and  is  in  fruit  the  most 
strikingly  beautiful  of  all  Crabapples. 

Differing  from  the  tree  form  of  M.  Sieboldii  only 
in  certain  technical  matters  is  M.  zumi  which  was 
introduced  to  cultivation  by  Professor  Sargent  who 
collected  seeds  in  Japan  in  1892.  This,  too,  is  a 
very  desirable  small  tree  with  fragrant  white  flowers 
and  small  yellow  or  red  fruits.  It  is  common  on  the 
slopes  of  Mt.  Fuji  and  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Chuzenji 
in  the  Nikko  region. 

Most  of  the  orchard  fruits  grown  in  the  countries 
of  the  Far  East  have  been  obtained  by  long  cultiva- 
tion from  species  indigenous  in  China  and  have  not 
common  origin  with  the  same  kinds  of  fruits  culti- 
vated in  this  country  and  in  Europe.  The  Apple  of 
that  region  is  an  example.  It  is  only  very  recently 
that  science  has  become  acquainted  with  the  source 
of  the  Apple  of  China  and  Japan  although  under 
various  names  it  has  been  in  cultivation  in  the  Occi- 


210  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE   GARDEN 

dent  for  some  sixty  years.     This  Apple  (M.  pruni- 
folia,  var.  rinki)  grows  wild  in  the  mountainous  parts 
of  central  China  where  I  was  fortunate  enough  to  dis- 
cover it  in  the  spring  of  1901,  and  later  secured  seeds 
which  resulted  in  its  successful  introduction  to  our 
gardens.     Previous  to  this  discovery  it  was  known 
only  from  plants  cultivated  in  Japan,  and  by  most 
botanists   was    considered    a   very   doubtful   plant. 
From  Japan  it  was  introduced  to  Europe  about  1854, 
and  distributed  by  von  Siebold  as  Mains  ringo.     In 
habit  this  species  resembles  the  common  Apple  but 
its  leaves  are  rather  different,  the  flower  stalks  are 
much  longer,  and  the  fruit  is  not  impressed  at  the 
summit.     As  a  fruit  tree  the  Chinese  Apple  is  culti- 
vated in  central  and  western  China,  from  river  level, 
where  the  climate  is  very  warm,  to  altitudes  of  9,500 
feet  in  the  more  mountainous  parts,  where  a  severe 
climate    obtains.     In    northern    China    and    Korea 
it  is  cultivated  sparingly  over  a  wide  area.     The 
fruit  is  small,  seldom  more  than  one  and  one  fourth 
inch  in  diameter  and  slightly  longer  than  broad,  of 
a  pleasant  bitter-sweet  flavor  and  varies  in  color 
from  greenish  to  greenish  yellow  and  is  rosy  on  one 
side.     Occasionally  it  is  nearly  all  red.     Formerly 
this  Chinese  Apple  was  cultivated  in  Japan  for  its 
fruit,  but  since  the  introduction  of  varieties  of  the 


CHERRIES   AND    CRABAPPLES  211 

European  Apple  its  cultivation  as  a  fruit  tree  has 
been  discontinued. 

There  are  other  species,  too,  of  much  merit  and 
beauty  and  several  new  ones  whose  value  we  do  not 
fully  know,  but  there  is  one  so  distinct  in  habit  and 
with  a  field  of  usefulness  so  peculiarly  its  own  that  it 
must  not  be  omitted  even  in  this  incomplete  enumera- 
tion, and  that  is  M.  Sargentii.  This  species  is  of 
dwarf  stature  with  the  branches  rigid  and  spreading, 
and  the  lower  ones  flat  on  the  ground,  and  is  emi- 
nently suitable  for  covering  slopes  and  banks.  The 
flowers  in  umbellate  clusters  are  saucer-shaped,  round, 
and  of  the  purest  white  and  these  are  followed  by 
masses  of  wine-colored  fruit  which  is  covered  with  a 
slight  bloom.  In  its  habit,  its  flowers,  and  in  its  fruit 
it  is  very  distinct  from  all  other  species.  We  owe  this 
valuable  addition  to  Professor  Sargent,  who  dis- 
covered it  in  fruit  and  sent  seeds  in  1892,  from  near 
Mororan  in  Hokkaido,  Japan. 

In  this  group  of  Asiatic  Crabapples  there  are  trees 
for  the  avenue,  park,  or  garden,  shrubs  for  the  lawn 
or  border  and  others  suitable  for  slopes  and  banks — 
all  absolutely  hardy  in  the  coldest  parts  of  New  Eng- 
land and  each  and  all  may  be  depended  upon  to  pro- 
duce every  spring  season  a  wealth  of  blossoms  in 
veritable  cascades.  The  plants  grow  quickly  in 


212  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

good  loamy  soil  and  many  of  them  begin  to  flower 
and  produce  fruit  when  only  a  few  years  old.  They 
will  thrive  wherever  the  common  Apple  will  grow 
if  attention  be  paid  to  keeping  them  free  from  the 
scale  insects  which  are  destructive  to  all  plants 
of  the  Apple  tribe.  This  may  be  accomplished 
readily  by  spraying  with  the  same  antidotes  as  recom- 
mended in  the  case  of  the  Japanese  Cherries. 


The  common  Lilac  is  known  in  a  great  number  of  varieties, 

with    flowers    ranging  from   white  to  dark   purple.     Given 

sufficient  space  they  are  clothed  with  their  fragrant  flowers. 

The  variety  shown  here  is  Congo 


CHAPTER  XII 
IN  "LILACDOM" 

THE  MOST  ADAPTABLE  GROUP  OF  FLOWERING  SHRUBS 
FOR   FLORAL   USE 

EiCS  are  among  the  few  hardy  shrubs  that 
have  truly  entered  into  their  kingdom  in 
the  gardens  of  eastern  North  America.  They 
need  no  introduction  to  readers  and  well  they  merit 
their  popularity.  For  regions  where  cold  winters  are 
followed  by  hot,  dry  summers  they  are  ideal  shrubs. 
The  Common  Lilac  (Syringa  vulgaris)  is  the  most  ac- 
commodating of  plants  and  thrives  in  all  sorts  of 
queer  places  and  under  all  sorts  of  adverse  conditions, 
but  its  progeny  and  its  congeners  are  more  exacting, 
and  if  good  results  are  expected  the  plants  must  be 
treated  liberally. 

Now,  the  Common  Lilac  is  native  of  the  moun- 
tains of  Bulgaria  and  was  sent  from  Constantinople 
to  Vienna  about  1560.  From  there  it  soon  reached 
western  Europe  and  both  purple  and  white  kinds 
were  cultivated  in  London  in  1597,  by  Gerard.  It  is 
not  known  with  certainty  when,  or  by  whom,  this 

213 


214  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE   GARDEN 

Lilac  was  introduced  to  North  America,  but  Wash- 
ington wrote  about  it  in  his  diary  and  planted  it  at 
Mt.  Vernon  where  his  plants  or  their  descendants 
are  growing  to  this  day.  But  although  so  long  culti- 
vated in  gardens  it  is  only  recently  that  its  native 
habitat  has  become  known.  In  the  Arnold  Arbor- 
etum may  be  seen  growing  specimens  raised  from 
seeds  gathered  from  wild  plants.  They  have  narrow 
clusters  of  dull-purplish  flowers  and  are  by  no  means 
attractive  garden  shrubs. 

During  the  last  fifty  years  horticulturists,  espe- 
cially those  of  France  and  in  a  lesser  degree  those  of 
Germany,  have  paid  great  attention  to  the  Common 
Lilac  and  the  result  has  been  a  plethora  of  beautiful 
shrubs.  In  fact,  virtually  all  the  plants  known  in  a 
general  way  as  Lilacs  have  been  derived  from  S. 
vulgaris.  I  shall  recur  to  this  point  later,  but  it  may 
be  stated  here  that  the  possibilities  of  improving  upon 
the  present-day  forms  of  the  Common  Lilac  appear 
to  be  few  but  there  are  other  members  of  the  kingdom 
possessing  vast  potential  values. 

The  Lilacs,  of  which  some  twenty-five  species  are 
known,  are  all  native  of  the  Old  World  and  some  are 
shrubs  and  others  small  trees.  The  Common  Lilac 
(S.  vulgaris}  and  its  Hungarian  confrere  (S.  Josikaed) 
ire  native  of  southeastern  Europe;  the  Persian  Lilac 


IN  "LILACDOM"  215 

grows  wild  in  southwestern  Asia  from  the  Caucasus  to 
Afghanistan,  and  in  the  western  Himalayas  S.  emodi 
is  found.  All  other  known  species  are  natives  of 
eastern  Asia  and  no  fewer  than  seventeen  species 
are  indigeneous  in  China  proper.  Only  one  species 
(S.japonicd),  and  that  a  Tree  Lilac,  is  found  in  Japan. 
In  the  gardens  of  Peking  and  of  other  places  in  north- 
ern China  the  white-flowered  S.  affinis  has  been  cul- 
tivated from  time  immemorial. 

% 

All  Lilacs  are  very  hardy  plants,  and,  notwithstand- 
ing, the  fact  that  none  is  native  of  this  country  every 
species  so  far  brought  into  cultivation  has  proved 
hardy  in  the  Arnold  Arboretum.  When  their  wide 
range  of  distribution  is  duly  considered  this  is  remark- 
able. In  very  severe  winters  the  Himalayan  S. 
emodi  suffers  somewhat  and  the  flowers  of  the  Chinese 
S.  oblata  are  occasionally  injured  by  late  spring  frosts 
but  no  other  sort  is  hurt.  And  not  only  are  Lilacs 
quite  hardy  in  the  colder  parts  of  New  England  and 
elsewhere  but  they  thrive  better  there  than  they  do 
across  the  water  in  Great  Britain. 

As  mentioned  already  the  ordinary  colored  and 
white  forms  of  the  Common  Lilac  will  withstand 
considerable  hardship  and  abuse  but  their  progeny 
to  give  the  best  results  demand  a  good  soil  and  this  is 
true  for  all  the  other  species.  A  well-drained,  good, 


216  ARISTOCRATS    OF  THE   GARDEN 

rich  loamy  soil  suits  them  best  and  if  the  soil  contains 
a  certain  amount  of  lime  so  much  the  better,  for 
Lilacs  generally  are  fond  of  lime.  Full  exposure  to 
the  sun  and  air  is  necessary  and  their  beauty  is  dis- 
played to  best  advantage  when  the  plants  are  allowed 
a  sufficiency  of  space  in  which  to  develop  freely. 
They  are  essentially  plants  for  northern  New  Eng- 
land and  regions  with  a  similar  climate;  in  southern 
New  England  and  southward  the  leaves  in  summer  are 
often  temporarily  disfigured  by  mildew. 

A  decade  or  a  little  more  ago  it  was  customary  to 
propagate  Lilacs  by  grafting  them  on  Privet  (Ligus- 
trum)  stock,  but  this  pernicious  practice  has  met  with 
the  opprobrium  it  merits  and  to-day  any  dealer  selling 
plants  so  propagated  deserves  to  be  ostracized.  It  is 
the  nature  of  most  Lilacs,  and  of  the  Common  Lilac 
in  particular,  to  sucker  freely  and  this  alone  demon- 
strates the  necessity  for  their  being  on  their  own  roots. 
If  the  plants  get  unshapely  or  too  large,  own-root 
Lilacs  may  be  cut  almost  to  the  ground  with  advan- 
tage for  they  will  spring  up  and  soon  make  shapely 
bushes  again.  Cuttings  three  to  four  inches  long 
of  green  wood  taken  in  early  June,  or  of  thin  but  firm, 
half-ripened  wood  taken  from  mid-July  to  early 
August,  and  inserted  in  prepared  soil  or  sand  on  a 
spent  hotbed,  or  in  pure  sand  in  a  frame  and  kept  close, 


IN  "LILACDOM"  217 

will  root  in  about  six  weeks,  and  in  three  years  make 
nice  plants.  Also  they  may  be  budded  or  grafted  on 
seedling  stock  of  the  Common  Lilac  and  by  this 
method,  although  it  is  not  to  be  recommended,  sala- 
ble plants  are  produced  in  two  years.  When  pot- 
ting the  stocks  carefully  remove  all  adventitious 
buds;  suckers  should  not  be  used  as  stock  since  it  is 
impossible  in  these  to  control  the  development  of 
adventitious  buds.  But,  after  all,  there  is  no  valid 
reason  for  propagating  Lilacs  other  than  by  cuttings 
for  by  this  means  the  particular  variety  is  on  its  own 
roots  and  the  advantage  to  the  garden  lover  is  obvious 
and  lasting. 

In  the  Arnold  Arboretum  about  one  hundred 
and  twenty  named  varieties  of  the  Common  Lilac 
are  cultivated  and  in  addition  some  twenty  species 
and  several  hybrids,  and  the  season  of  flowering  lasts 
from  about  the  first  of  May  to  the  first  week  of  July. 
In  Highland  Park,  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  where  great 
attention  has  been  given  to  these  plants,  there  is  the 
most  complete  collection  of  the  varieties  of  the  Com- 
mon Lilac  to  be  found  anywhere  on  this  continent. 
In  all,  this  park  has  two  hundred  and  ninety-seven 
kinds  of  Lilacs  and  on  May  22, 1915 — "Lilac  Sunday" 
— between  the  hours  of  six  A.  M.  and  eight  p.  M.  some 
fifty  to  sixty  thousand  people  visited  this  collection. 


218  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE   GARDEN 

Such  collections  are  of  great  interest  and  of  much 
educational  value;  but  private  gardens  cannot  ac- 
commodate such  numbers. 

If  the  best  only  be  desired  no  such  quantity  is 
necessary,  for  within  the  limits  of  a  dozen  the  best 
and  most  desirable  kinds  of  the  Common  Lilac  may 
be  had.  In  recent  years  many  of  the  seedlings  raised 
and  named  and  sold  by  nurserymen  show  no  improve- 
ment on  the  older  varieties.  The  beauty  limit  ap- 
pears to  have  been  reached  and  it  is  evident  that  no 
great  additional  improvement  can  now  be  expected 
from  seedlings  of  the  Common  Lilac.  But  granted 
that  a  dozen  will  include  all  that  is  best  in  these  plants 
the  selection  is  onerous  and  difficult  since  individual 
taste  is  all  important.  Some  people  do  not  like  the 
double-flowered  sorts  and  others  have  preferences 
for  certain  shades  of  color.  I  am  without  prejudice 
or  bias  in  these  matters  and  of  the  sorts  of  the  Com- 
mon Lilac  of  proven  merit  in  the  Arnold  Arboretum 
I  would  select  the  following  dozen:  Marie  Legraye, 
Princess  Alexandre  (single  white) ;  Madame  Lemoine, 
Miss  Ellen  Willmott  (double  white) ;  Gloire  de  Moul- 
ins,  Macrostachya  (pink);  Charles  X  (rosy  lilac); 
Volcan,  Congo,  Philemon,  Ludwig  Spath  (dark  red- 
purple);  Justi  (blue).  Be  it  understood  all  these  are 
forms  of  the  Common  Lilac  and  it  is  not  supposed  that 


IN  "LILACDOM"  219 

this  selection  in  its  entirety  would  satisfy  every  en- 
thusiast. 

But  the  Common  Lilac  and  its  very  numerous 
descendants  do  not  exhaust  Lilacdom.  Far  from  it 
— very  far  from  it.  There  are  other  species  and  there 
are  hybrids  of  singular  beauty  and  charm  which 
deserve  wide  recognition.  Some  blossom  earlier 
than  the  Common  Lilac  and  its  forms,  and  others 
later;  together  they  extend  very  considerably  the 
Lilac  season.  Further,  it  is  in  the  hybridizing  of 
these  species  that  advance  in  this  useful  and  pleasing 
class  of  plants  must  be  looked  for  in  the  future.  As 
we  shall  see  later  a  beginning  has  been  made  and  our 
gardens  enriched  thereby. 

Each  succeeding  year  in  the  Arnold  Arboretum 
there  is  a  close  race  between  two  Chinese  species 
(S.  affinis  and  S.  oblatd),  to  be  the  first  Lilac  to  blos- 
som and  usually  the  first-named  wins.  This  has 
white  flowers  and  is  very  abundantly  cultivated  in 
the  gardens  of  Peking,  and  from  there  was  introduced 
into  the  Arnold  Arboretum  by  Mr.  S.  T.  Williams 
in  April,  1904.  It  is  a  tall  bush  of  loose,  irregular 
habit  and  has  thin  branches  and  sweetly  fragrant 
flowers.  The  wild  prototype  of  this  Lilac  was  re- 
cently discovered  in  northern  China  and  named  var. 
Giraldii,  after  Pere  G.  Girald,  an  Italian  priest  of  the 


220  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

Roman  Catholic  Church,  and  reached  us  through  V. 
Lemoine  et  Fils  in  1906.  This  has  mauve-colored 
flowers  which  open  about  the  same  time  as  the  type. 
The  other  species  (S.  oblata)  is  a  sturdy  and  broad 
shrub  of  good  habit  and  has  handsome  leaves,  thick 
and  leathery  in  texture,  which  in  the  autumn  turn 
to  a  deep,  bronze-red  or  wine  color.  The  flowers 
are  large,  pale  lilac,  and  very  fragrant  but  unfortu- 
nately they  are  often  injured  by  late  frosts.  It  was 
introduced  into  England  by  Robert  Fortune  from 
Shanghai  about  1854.  In  Peking  gardens  it  is  much 
cultivated  and  Dr.  E.  Bretschneider  sent  seeds  from 
Peking  to  the  Botanical  Garden,  Petrograd,  where 
plants  from  this  source  flowered  in  1888. 

The  next  Lilac  to  open  is  S.  pubescens,  also  native 
of  northern  China,  and  was  introduced  in  1882  by 
Dr.  E.  Bretschneider  who  sent  seeds  to  the  Arnold 
Arboretum,  where  it  flowered  for  the  first  time  in 
1886.  This  is  a  free-growing  and  free-flowering 
shrub  with  erect  and  rather  slender  stems,  small 
hairy  leaves,  and  large  clusters  of  pale  lilac,  fragrant, 
long-tubed,  and  rather  small  flowers  with  dark  violet 
anthers  and  is  among  the  most  beautiful  of  all  Lilacs. 
These  three  Chinese  species  are  the  heralds  of  Lilac- 
dom.  In  rapid  succession  follow  the  Common  Lilac 
with  its  numerous  progeny  and  several  other  species. 


IN  "LILACDOM"  221 

After  the  Common  Lilac  has  finished  flowering, 
or  nearly  so,  the  Persian  Lilac  (S.  persicd),  with  its 
huge  clusters  of  small  fragrant  flowers  which  weigh 
down  the  slender  branches,  assumes  the  throne. 
This  lovely  Lilac  was  cultivated  in  England  as  early 
as  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century  but  it  is 
now  all  too  seldom  seen  in  gardens.  In  cultivation 
it  is  a  broad  and  shapely  bush  of  medium  height 
with  small  leaves  and  is  extraordinarily  floriferous. 
The  type  has  pale  rosy  purple  flowers,  and  so,  too,  has 
the  form  laciniata  with  deeply  incised  leaves,  but 
there  is  also  a  white-flowered  variety  (alba). 

Closely  related  to  the  Persian  Lilac  is  S.  pinnatifolia, 
a  new-comer  which  I  had  the  pleasure  of  discovering 
on  the  borders  of  China  and  Thibet  and  of  introducing 
to  cultivation  in  1904.  This  species  is  remarkable 
in  having  pinnately  divided  leaves  and  in  this  char- 
acter is  distinct  from  all  others.  It  has  small  pale 
mauve-colored  flowers  which  are  borne  in  broad 
pyramidate  clusters;  but  thus  far,  under  cultivation, 
it  has  not  flowered  freely  and  unless  it  improves  with 
age  it  will  have  to  be  considered  more  in  the  light  of  a 
curiosity  than  anything  else. 

The  most  distinct  of  all  Lilacs  is  the  new  S.  reflexa 
with  narrow,  cylindrical  flower  clusters  from  nine  to 
twelve  inches  long  which  arch  downward  from  near 


222  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

the  base  and  thus  hang  somewhat  like  the  inflores- 
cence of  the  Wistaria.  The  expanding  flower-buds 
are  bright  red  and  the  open  flowers  are  pale  rose  color. 
It  will  thus  be  seen  that  this  is  a  plant  of  singular 
and  most  distinctive  beauty  and  in  the  hands  of  the 
hybridist  may  be  the  forerunner  of  a  race  totally 
different  in  aspect  when  in  flower  from  present-day 
Lilacs.  A  strong-growing  shrub  from  eight  to  twelve 
feet  high,  with  erect  stems  and  oblong  lance-shaped 
leaves,  its  season  of  flowering  is  mid- June.  It  is  na- 
tive of  the  margins  of  woods  and  thickets  on  the 
mountains  of  western  Hupeh,  in  central  China,  where 
I  had  the  good  fortune  to  discover  it  in  1901,  and  of 
introducing  it,  together  with  another  new  species 
(S.  Julianae),  in  1902.  The  latter  is  a  broad  shrub 
scarcely  exceeding  five  feet  in  height  but  is  twice  that 
much  in  diameter,  and  has  thin  and  twiggy  branches 
and  small,  softly  hairy  leaves.  Its  rather  small  clus- 
ters are  very  freely  produced  and  the  flowers  are  small 
and  fragrant  and  have  violet-colored  anthers.  It 
differs  from  all  other  Lilacs  in  having  the  stalks  of 
the  inflorescence  and  of  the  individual  flowers  and 
also  the  outer  surface  of  the  corolla-tube  a  deep 
purple  color.  The  inner  surface  of  the  corolla  is 
white  so  that  as  the  flowers  open  the  inflorescence 
is  purple  and  white  and  the  contrast  is  most  pleasing 


IN  "LILACDOM"  223 

and  is  heightened  by  the  dark  violet  anthers.  It 
flowers  toward  the  end  of  June. 

A  late-flowering  species  which  under  cultivation 
has  yet  to  show  its  qualities  in  perfection  is  S. 
tomentella.  I  saw  this  plant  in  flower  for  the  first 
time  on  July  9,  1908,  on  the  frontiers  of  eastern 
Thibet  at  an  altitude  of  nine  thousand  feet,  and  I 
thought  then  that  I  had  never  before  seen  such  a 
handsome  species  of  Lilac.  It  had  foot-high,  broad 
panicles  of  pink  to  rosy  lilac  colored  flowers  and  on 
other  bushes  they  were  white.  The  plants  were 
from  eight  to  fifteen  feet  high,  much-branched  yet 
compact  in  habit,  and  the  wealth  of  flower  clusters 
made  it  conspicuous  from  afar.  The  leaves  are 
elliptic-lance-shaped  or  rather  broader,  from  four  to  six 
inches  long  and  more  or  less  hairy  on  the  underside. 
In  1903,  I  had  collected  in  the  same  locality  seeds 
of  this  Lilac  and  successfully  introduced  it  to  culti- 
vation. Being  rather  variable  in  certain  characters 
it  has  received  several  names  (S.  Wilsonii,  S.  Rehderi- 
ana,  S.  alborosea),  but  it  must  be  known  by  its 
oldest  name  of  S.  tomentella.  Under  cultivation  it 
has  flowered  several  times  and  I  am  patiently  wait- 
ing for  it  to  show  its  real  character. 

Of  the  late-flowering  Lilacs  the  best  known  in  this 
country  and  perhaps  the  hardiest  of  all  is  S.  villosa, 


224  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

a  native  of  northern  China;  and  from  near  Peking,  in- 
troduced by  Dr.  E.  Bretschneider  into  the  Arnold  Arbor- 
etum in  1882.  It  is  a  large  shrub  of  excellent  habit 
with  erect  fairly  stout  branches  and  oblong-lance- 
shaped,  rather  pale  green  leaves.  The  flowers  are 
rose-colored,  pink,  or  nearly  white,  but  they  have  an 
unpleasant  odor.  It  is,  however,  a  first-rate  garden 
shrub,  exceedingly  floriferous,  and  very  valuable  for 
its  hardiness  and  for  its  late  flowers.  Very  similar  in 
habit  to  the  above  but  with  bluish  purple  flowers  is 
the  Hungarian  Lilac  (S.  Josikaed)  and  though  much 
inferior  to  its  Chinese  relative  as  a  garden  shrub  it 
has  proved  valuable  as  a  parent  as  we  shall  see  when 
we  come  to  the  hybrids. 

Of  all  late-flowering  Lilacs  the  most  strikingly 
handsome  is  S.  Wolfii,  native  of  Mandshuria  and  in- 
troduced into  cultivation  at  Petrograd  by  Russian 
botanists.  From  there  it  was  sent  to  the  Arnold 
Arboretum  in  1906,  before  it  had  received  a  name. 
In  foliage  and  habit  it  resembles  S.  villosa  but  it  is 
much  more  vigorous  and  a  taller  plant.  The  flowers 
are  small,  dark  blue-purple  to  rose-purple  and  are 
borne  in  erect,  branched  clusters  often  two  feet 
high  and  a  foot  broad  and  are  produced  in  great  pro- 
fusion. Unfortunately  the  flowers  lack  the  fragrance 
of  the  Common  Lilac  and  of  several  of  the  Chinese 


IN  "LILACDOM"  225 

species  but  in  spectacular  beauty  it  transcends  them 
all. 

The  Himalayan  Lilac  (S.  emodi)  is  among  the  last 
of  the  true  Lilacs  to  flower  and  is  less  hardy  than 
any  other.  It  is  a  large  bush,  or  bushy  tree,  occasion- 
ally eighteen  feet  tall,  with  oblong,  pointed  leaves, 
light  yellow-green  above,  silvery  gray,  and  hairy  be- 
low, and  bears  long,  narrow  clusters  of  small  white 
fragrant  flowers.  In  its  pale  foliage  it  is  distinct 
from  other  Lilacs  and  it  is  one  of  the  very  few  species 
which  thrive  better  in  Great  Britain  than  in  New 
England. 

In  1915,  the  last  of  the  true  Lilacs  to  flower  in  the 
Arnold  Arboretum  was  S.  Sweginzowii,  a  new-comer 
from  northwestern  China.  This  is  a  shrub  of  com- 
pact habit  with  rather  slender  dark  red  branches  and 
twiggy  branchlets  with  dark  dull  green  sharp-pointed 
leaves  and  long  narrow  clusters  of  delicately  fragrant 
blossoms.  The  flowers  are  flesh-colored  in  bud  and 
nearly  white  when  fully  open  and  the  corolla-tube  is 
slender  and  about  half  an  inch  long. 

Of  true  Lilacs  some  half-dozen  other  species  are 
in  cultivation  in  the  Arnold  Arboretum  and  promise 
to  have  their  own  peculiar  sphere  of  usefulness  in 
gardens.  But  at  present  we  do  not  know  enough 
about  their  garden  value,  and,  since  they  are  scarcely 


226  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE    GARDEN 

obtainable,  further  mention  of  them  may  be  omit- 
ted. 

The  Tree  Lilacs,  of  which  there  are  three  species 
all  native  of  northeastern  Asia,  differ  from  the  true 
Lilacs  in  having  a  short  corolla-tube  and  protruded 
stamens.  They  are  large  shrubs  or  small  trees  with 
large,  broad,  much-branched  clusters  of  white  flowers 
of  unpleasant  odor.  They  blossom  when  the  flowers 
of  the  latest  of  the  true  Lilacs  are  fading.  The  first 
of  these  Tree  Lilacs  to  bloom  is  S.  amurensis,  from 
the  Amur  region  of  northeastern  Asia.  This  is  a 
small  bushy  tree  with  dark  green  leaves  and  flat- 
spreading  and  slightly  drooping  clusters  of  ivory- 
white  flowers.  The  next  to  open  its  flowers  is  S. 
pekinensis,  native  as  its  name  suggests  of  northern 
China,  and  is  a  large  bush  or  bushy  tree  from  twenty- 
five  to  thirty  feet  high  and  as  much  through  the 
crown.  The  branches  are  more  or  less  pendent  at 

V 

the  ends  and  are  clothed  with  lustrous  reddish  brown 
bark  which  separates  into  thin  layers  like  that  of 
certain  Birch  trees.  The  pointed  leaves  are  long  and 
narrow  and  hang  gracefully  and  are  surmounted  by 
half-drooping  flower  clusters  which  are  flat  and  un- 
symmetrical  and  smaller  than  those  of  the  other  two 
species  of  this  group.  It  was  introduced  into  cultiva- 
tion by  Dr.  E.  Bretschneider  who  in  1882  sent  seeds 


IN  "LILACDOM"  227 

to  the  Arnold  Arboretum,  where  it  flowered  for  the 
first  time  in  1889. 

The  last  to  flower  is  S.  japonica  and  this  is  the 
best  known  of  the  Tree  Lilacs.  It  is  common  in  the 
moist  woods  and  forests  of  central  Japan  and  in- 
creasingly so  northward  and  throughout  Hokkaido, 
whence  it  was  introduced  into  cultivation  by  Mr.  Wil- 
liam S.  Clark  who  sent  seeds  to  the  Arnold  Arboretum 
in  1876.  At  its  best  it  is  a  round-topped  tree  from 
thirty  to  forty  feet  tall  with  a  clean,  stout  trunk  cov- 
ered with  smooth,  lustrous  bark  like  that  of  a  Cherry 
tree.  The  leaves  are  large,  thick,  and  dark  green  and 
the  flowers  are  borne  in  large,  erect  symmetrical  clus- 
ters. The  wood  is  very  durable  in  the  ground  and 
for  this  reason  is  esteemed  above  that  of  all  other  trees 
by  the  Ainu  people  of  Hokkaido  for  making  their 
inaos  or  wooden  wands  used  for  religious  and  cere- 
monial purposes.  These  inaos  are  looked  upon  as 
continual  guardians  against  harm  from  Nature,  dis- 
ease, and  evil  spirits. 

Apart  from  the  very  numerous  seedling  varieties 
of  the  Common  Lilac  there  are  a  number  of  very 
beautiful  Lilacs  of  hybrid  origin  and  in  the  years  to 
come  a  great  development  of  this  favorite  shrub  may 
be  looked  for  along  these  lines.  Hybrids  are  usually 
more  vigorous  in  growth  than  species  and  often 


228  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

vastly  more  useful  as  garden  plants.  Plant-breeding 
is  full  of  surprises  and  it  is  often  the  case  that  parents 
of  indifferent  or  relatively  little  garden  beauty  by 
judicious  mating  yield  offspring  of  inestimable  value. 
Already  this  has  happened  in  Lilacdom.  The  Hun- 
garian 5.  Josikaea  is  perhaps  the  least  beautiful  of  all 
known  Lilacs  but  crossed  with  the  Chinese  S.  villosa 
it  has  given  rise  to  a  handsome  new  race  known  col- 
lectively as  S.  Henryi  after  the  originator,  Monsieur 
L.  Henry,  a  gardener  at  one  time  attached  to  the 
Jardin  des  Plantes  in  Paris.  The  best  known  and 
most  beautiful  of  these  hybrids  is  Lutece,  which  is  a 
compact,  fast-growing,  large  shrub  with  foliage  re- 
sembling that  of  S.  villosa,  and  large,  erect  clusters  of 
rose-purple  flowers  and  it  is  one  of  the  latest  of  all 
Lilacs  to  blossom. 

The  oldest  of  Hybrid  Lilacs  and  one  of  the  bright- 
est jewels  in  the  crown  of  Lilacdom  is  the  Rouen  Lilac 
which  appeared  in  the  Botanic  Garden  at  Rouen  in 
1795.  It  is  a  hybrid  between  the  Common  Lilac 
(S.  uulgaris)  and  the  Persian  (S.  persica)  but  through 
an  error  as  to  its  origin  it  was  christened  S.  chinensis 
— a  name  at  once  unfortunate  and  utterly  misleading. 
In  gardens  it  is  also  known  as  S.  rothomagensis.  It 
is  one  of  the  most  floriferous  of  all  Lilacs  and  in  its 
slender  branches  and  narrow  leaves  and  its  small 


IN  "LILACDOM"  229 

flowers  borne  in  enormous  clusters  it  resembles  its 
Persian  parent  while  the  color  of  the  flowers  shows  the 
influence  of  the  Common  Lilac.  In  addition  to  the  type 
there  is  a  form  (alba)  with  nearly  white  flowers. 

Another  interesting  hybrid,  also  raised  in  France,  is 
S.  hyacinthiflora  which  is  a  cross  between  the  Common 
Lilac  (S.  vulgaris)  and  the  Chinese  S.  oblata.  It  is  a 
large  and  vigorous  and  shapely  plant  with  good  foli- 
age and  small  clusters  of  small,  semi-double,  bluish 
purple,  very  fragrant  flowers.  It  is  less  ornamental 
than  many  other  Lilacs  and  as  a  garden  plant  it  is 
chiefly  valuable  on  account  of  its  earliness  to  blossom, 
a  character  which  it  inherits  from  its  Chinese  parent. 

There  are  other  hybrids  of  value  though  less  well 
known,  but  enough  has  been  written  here  to  prove, 
if  it  be  necessary,  that  even  if  the  Lilac  has  entered 
into  its  kingdom  the  frontiers  of  its  dominion  have 
not  yet  been  approached. 


CHAPTER  XIII 
NEW  HERBACEOUS  PLANTS  FROM  CHINA 

SOME    NOVELTIES    FOR    THE    HARDY    PERENNIAL    GAR- 
DEN  THAT   PROMISE    WELL 

A^ONG  the  wealth  of  new  material  which 
recent  plant  exploration  work  in  central 
and  western  China  has  added  to  the  gardens 
of  North  America  and  Europe  there  are  not  lacking 
herbs  of  more  than  usual  interest  and  value.  My  own 
specialty  is  woody  plants,  but  actuated  by  an  ardent 
love  for  flowers  of  all  sorts  opportunity  to  send  home 
material  of  herbaceous  plants  was  never  missed. 
Moreover,  the  principal  object  of  my  second  jour- 
ney to  China  (1903-05)  was  to  try  to  introduce  a 
yellow-flowered  Poppywort  (Meconopsis  integrifolia) 
which  was  known  to  grow  in  the  alpine  regions  of 
the  Chino-Thibetan  borderland.  Complete  success 
attended  the  quest  but  the  plant  has  not  taken  very 
kindly  to  cultivation  in  Great  Britain  and  it  cannot 
be  recommended  as  a  suitable  plant  for  American 
gardens. 

This  Poppywort  is  a   biennial   and   grows   from 
one  and  a  half  to  three  feet  tall  and  has  rather 

230 


NEW   HERBACEOUS   PLANTS  231 

globular,  clear  yellow  flowers  each  from  six  to  eight 
inches  in  diameter.  It  is  probably  the  most  gor- 
geously beautiful  of  all  alpine  plants,  and  what  joy  it 
would  give  me  could  I  recommend  it  to  the  garden 
lovers  of  this  country  in  general.  This  cannot  be 
done,  yet  it  is  probable  that  in  parts  of  Maine,  like 
Bar  Harbor,  in  Oregon,  British  Columbia,  and  other 
districts  enjoying  a  cool  summer  climate  and  an 
abundant  snowfall  in  winter,  this  remarkable  plant 
would  thrive.  I  do  not  know  that  it  has  been  given 
a  trial  in  the  regions  mentioned.  But  if  this  Poppy- 
wort  is  not  for  the  ordinary  garden  there  are  other 
handsome  and  useful  herbs  from  central  and  western 
China  which  are  easily  cultivated  and  are  deserv- 
ing of  the  widest  recognition.  In  this  chapter  I  pro- 
pose to  mention  in  cursory  detail  what  I  consider  to 
be  the  best  of  the  herbs  it  has  been  my  good 
fortune  and  privilege  to  introduce  to  the  gardens  of 
western  lands.  The  great  majority  are  vigorous- 
growing  and  very  hardy  herbaceous  perennials  and 
in  this  connection  a  few  remarks  of  a  general  charac- 
ter may  be  in  order. 

Hardy  herbaceous  plants  do  not  at  present  en- 
joy the  same  favor  in  this  country  as  in  Great  Brit- 
ain but  each  succeeding  year  appreciation  of  them 
increases.  Like  trees  and  shrubs,  perennial  herbs 


232  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE  GARDEN 

give  permanence  to  garden  beauty  and  are  essen- 
tials in  the  order  and  fitness  of  things.  In  every 
garden,  large  or  small,  there  is  place  for  them, 
and  in  this  class  of  herbs  there  is  a  great  variety 
of  plants  of  perfect  hardiness  and  of  easy  culture 
which  will  embellish  and  beautify  any  and  every 
site,  be  it  the  woodland,  waterside,  open  border,  or 
the  immediate  precincts  of  the  home.  In  a  natural 
state  a  majority  of  these  showy  and  vigorous  herbs 
grow  on  the  margins  of  woods  and  thickets,  in  moist 
meadows,  or  by  the  sides  of  streams  and  lakes.  In 
such  places  the  roots  are  kept  cool  and  abundantly 
supplied  with  moisture  and  in  the  autumn  the 
crowns  are  covered  with  quantities  of  fallen  leaves. 
These  facts  are  significant  and  their  appreciation  of 
fundamental  importance  in  the  successful  cultivation 
of  these  plants.  If  one  is  desirous  of  growing  good 
vegetables  the  soil  must  be  rich  and  must  be  kept  so 
by  frequent  dressings  of  farm-yard  manure  or  some 
equivalent  fertilizer,  and  this  is  true  in  the  matter  of 
herbaceous  perennials.  In  addition  to  a  rich  soil, 
ample  water  supply  at  the  root,  and  an  autumn  mulch 
of  leaves  and  well-rotted  manure,  frequent  division 
of  the  root-stock  and  transplanting  are  essential  to 
ensure  full  results  in  border  cultivation  of  most  hardy 
perennial  herbs.  Lastly,  it  may  be  pointed  out  that 


NEW   HERBACEOUS   PLANTS  233 

this  class  of  plants  will  withstand  low  winter  tem- 
peratures with  immunity  but  summer  drought  is 
fatal.  They  revel  in  regions  where  in  summer  hot, 
sunny  days  are  followed  by  cool  nights  and  where 
precipitation  is  even  and  ample. 

For  the  waterside  and  woodland  the  Senecio  tribe 
is  full  of  good  things.  The  genus  is  one  of  the  largest 
in  the  vegetable  kingdom.  It  has  a  world-wide  dis- 
tribution and  in  China  alone  is  represented  by  more 
than  a  hundred  distinct  species.  The  majority  of 
these  are  weeds  pure  and  simple  and  of  no  ornamental 
value  whatsoever.  On  the  contrary,  others  such  as 
S.  clivorum,  S.  Veitchianus,  and  S.  Wilsonianus  are  of 
striking  beauty.  These  three  species  agree  in  having 
bold,  reniform-cordate  dark  green  leaves  each  a  foot 
or  more  across,  on  long  and  stout  stalks,  but  are 
otherwise  quite  dissimilar.  The  first  named  has  a 
much-branched  flattened  inflorescence,  from  one  and  a 
half  to  two  feet  across  and  raised  well  above  the 
luxuriant  foliage  and  bearing  masses  of  Aster-like 
flowers,  each  from  three  to  five  inches  in  diameter  and 
of  a  peculiarly  rich  golden  yellow  color  in  shade  un- 
like that  of  any  other  plant  in  cultivation.  Senecio 
Veitchianus  and  S.  Wilsonianus  have  erect  spikes  of 
flowers  from  five  to  six  feet  or  more  tall.  In  the  first  the 
spike  is  simple  and  tapering  and  the  flowers  are  clear 


234  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

yellow  in  color.  In  S.  Wilsonianus  the  spike  is 
cylindrical,  like  an  enormously  elongated  thyrse, 
and  branching  at  the  base,  and  the  flowers  are  deep 
yellow.  In  both  of  these  plants  the  actual  length  of 
the  spike  clothed  with  flowers  is  from  two  to  three  feet. 
Strong  clumps  of  these  three  Senecios  produce  in 
August  and  September  a  dozen  or  more  flowering 
spikes  bearing  many  hundreds  of  flowers  and  are 
extremely  attractive. 

Quite  different  from  the  above  but  equally  charming 
is  S.  tanguticus  which  grows  from  four  to  five  feet  tall 
and  has  finely  cut  foliage  and  pyramidate  panicles  from 
eight  inches  to  a  foot  high  of  clear  yellow  flowers.  The 
individual  flowers  are  small  and  the  whole  plant  sug- 
gests a  glorified  Golden-rod  (Solidago).  These  Sen- 
ecios may  be  easily  raised  from  the  seeds  which  are 
freely  produced  and  the  seedlings  grow  rapidly  and 
soon  make  strong  flowering  plants.  Senecio  tangu- 
ticus  is  apt  to  make  itself  too  much  at  home  and  must 
be  watched  or  it  will  usurp  the  whole  waterside  or 
border. 

Closely  allied  to  the  above-mentioned  plants  but 
totally  different  in  appearance  is  Artemisia  ladiflora. 
This  new  Wormwood  has  finely  divided,  Chrysan- 
themum-like, aromatic  leaves  and  large  feathery 
panicles  of  milk-white,  fragrant  flowers  borne  on 


NEW   HERBACEOUS    PLANTS  235 

stems  from  three  to  four  feet  tall.  In  central  China 
this  plant  is  a  weed  of  cultivation  and  when  sending 
it  home  I  little  thought  that  it  would  so  quickly 
develop  into  such  a  charming  and  useful  garden  plant. 
It  may  be  increased  easily  from  seeds  or  by  division 
of  the  rootstock. 

Few  subjects  are  more  popular  for  pot-forcing 
for  winter  work  than  Astilbe  japonica  and  A.  astil- 
boides,  both  old  but  indispensable  plants.  Their 
recently  discovered  relatives,  A.  Davidii  and  A. 
grandis,  are  not  useful  for  this  purpose;  but  for  the 
moist  border  and  the  waterside  they  possess  much 
higher  claims  than  our  old  friends.  David's  Astilbe 
was  the  first  of  the  two  known  and  caused  quite  a 
sensation  when  exhibited.  The  flowers  are  of  a 
peculiar  shade  of  red,  known  before  only  in  the 
Loosestrife  (Lythrum  Salicaria),  and  the  anthers  are 
blue.  The  flowering  stems  are  six  feet  tall  with  the 
flowers  densely  crowded  on  much-branched  panicles 
having  ascending  lateral  branches  and  from  two  to  two 
and  a  half  feet  long.  Partial  shade  is  best  for  this 
plant  since  in  strong  sun  the  flowers  bleach.  Astilbe 
grandis  is  similar  in  habit  and  vigor  of  growth  but 
has  pure  white  flowers  larger  than  those  of  any  other 
Astilbe,  and  the  lateral  branches  of  the  flower  pan- 
icle spread  horizontally.  The  leaves  of  both  species 


236  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

resemble  those  of  A.  japonica  but  are  much  larger 
and  of  greater  substance.  Hybridists  in  France  and 
Germany  have  employed  these  and  other  species  in 
the  breeding  of  a  new  and  beautiful  race  of  hybrid 
Astilbes  of  which  A.  Arendsii  is  the  type,  and  there 
are  many  named  varieties  on  the  market.  These 
Astilbes  are  easily  propagated  by  division  of  the  root- 
stock  and  the  species  may  be  raised  from  seeds  with- 
out difficulty. 

Well  fitted  for  planting  alongside  Astilbes,  or  on 
wet  humus-clad  rocks  are  Rodgersia  aesculifolia,  R. 
pinnata,  var.  alba,  and  R.  sambucifolia.  These  are 
strong-growing  plants  with  broad  thyrsoid  panicles, 
each  from  a  foot  to  eighteen  inches  long,  of  fragrant 
flowers  borne  well  above  the  foliage  on  spikes  from  three 
to  five  feet  tall.  In  R.  sambucifolia  the  leaves  are 
truly  pinnate  but  in  the  others  they  resemble  in  form 
and  texture  those  of  the  Buckeye  (Aesculus).  The 
flowers  are  of  the  purest  white.  Rodgersias  are  easily 
raised  from  seeds  but  they  grow  slowly;  the  rootstock 
is  a  stout  rhizome  and  it  is  best  to  commence  with 
strong  established  roots. 

The  Rhubarbs  are  well  known  and  their  bold  foli- 
age and  tall  flower  spikes  make  them  noble  ob- 
jects yet  they  can  scarcely  be  classed  as  choice 
herbs.  Very  unlike  an  ordinary  Rhubarb,  however, 


NEW   HERBACEOUS   PLANTS  237 

is  the  new  Rheum  Alexandrae.  This  remarkable  plant 
has  neat,  ovate-cordate,  shining  dark  green  leaves, 
each  a  foot  or  more  long,  and  an  erect  tower-like 
inflorescence  a  yard  or  more  tall,  the  showy  part  of 
which  consists  of  broad,  rounded,  decurved  cowslip- 
yellow  bracts  overlapping  one  another  like  tiles  on  a 
house  and  beneath  which,  secure  from  rain,  nestle 
clusters  of  inconspicuous  flowers.  This  Rhubarb 
is  native  of  the  alpine  meadows  and  moorlands  of 
the  Chino-Thibetan  borderland  where  its  peculiar 
and  rich-colored  inflorescence  makes  it  conspicuous 
from  afar.  The  plant  grows  well  in  any  good,  rich, 
moist  garden  soil  and  is  fond  of  partial  shade  and  of 
cow  dung.  It  is  easily  raised  from  seeds  but  requires 
several  years  to  develop  strong-flowering  crowns. 

The  Aconites  or  Monkshoods  are  old-fashioned 
flowers  and  count  among  their  numbers  many  good 
garden  plants.  One  of  these  is  Aconitum  Wilsonii 
which  is  related  to  the  old  A.  napellus  and  is  a  strong- 
growing  species  with  stems  from  six  to  eight  feet  tall 
and  flowers  in  September.  The  leaves  are  leathery, 
dull  green,  and  deeply  incised;  the  flowers  large  and 
deep  blue  in  color.  After  the  main  spike  is  past 
axillary  branches  continue  to  bear  flowers  until  the 
advent  of  sharp  frosts.  The  rootstock  is  tuberous 
and  the  plants  require  a  rich  soil  and  to  get  estab- 


238  ARISTOCRATS   OF   THE   GARDEN 

lished  before  the  best  results  are  obtained.  Another 
good  and  very  distinct  Monkshood  is  A.  Hemsley- 
anum.  This  is  a  twining  plant  growing  from  eight  to 
twelve  feet  high,  and  in  a  wild  state  frequents  thickets 
where  it  rambles  over  shrubs  and  festoons  them  with 
a  wealth  of  large  blossoms  in  August  and  September. 
The  flowers  vary  considerably  in  color  and  although 
most  people  like  the  deep  blue  best  others  declare 
the  pale  blue  forms  equally  beautiful.  The  rootstock 
is  tuberous  and  the  twining  stems,  if  made  into  cut- 
tings in  late  July,  root  readily.  Aconitum  Wilsonii 
is  easily  raised  from  seeds  but  the  opposite  is  true  of 
A.  Hemsleyanum. 

The  Meadow-rues  (Thalictrum),  although  they  have 
beautiful  leaves,  are  not  regarded  as  showy  garden 
plants  yet  the  new  T.  dipterocarpum  is  one  of  the  love- 
liest herbs  imaginable.  It  grows  from  eight  to  ten  feet 
tall  and  the  flower  stems  are  very  much  branched 
and  bear  relatively  large  lavender-purple  flowers 
in  great  quantity.  The  leaves  are  broad  and  much 
divided  and  the  whole  habit  and  appearance  of  the 
plant  are  most  graceful  and  elegant.  It  requires  a 
good,  well-drained  soil,  is  fond  of  lime,  and  revels  in 
.sunshine.  Another  sun-loving  herb  is  Salvia  Przewal- 
skii  which  grows  from  two  to  two  and  a  half  feet  high 
and  has  large  blue-purple  flowers  and  good  foliage. 


NEW   HERBACEOUS   PLANTS  239 

(The  Iris  family  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  all, 
and  Iris  chrysographes  and  /.  Wilsonii  are  welcome 
additions.  These  new-comers  are  allied  to  the  well- 
known  /.  sibirica  and  have  a  similar  habit  and  fibrous 
rootstocks.  They  grow  from  two  to  two  and  a  half  feet 
high,  are  very  free  flowering  and  have  narrow,  dark 
green  leaves.  In  I.  chrysographes  the  standards  are 
brilliant  dark  purple-violet  and  the  falls  reddish- 
purple,  each  with  a  median  stripe  and  numerous 
spots  of  golden  yellow  near  the  base.  Iris  Wilsonii  has 
clear  yellow  flowers  with  a  copious  veining  of  purple 
on  the  lower  half  of  the  falls.  These  two  new  species 
delight  in  a  moist  loamy  soil,  are  not  averse  to 
partial  shade,  and  are  well  suited  for  planting  by  the 
side  of  water. 

In  recent  years  China  has  given  to  gardens  in  the 
west  many  very  beautiful  kinds  of  Primroses  and 
among  them  Primula  pulverulenta,  P.  Cockburniana, 
and  P.  Veitchii.  In  habit  and  in  foliage  the  first 
named  resembles  the  well-known  P.  japonica  but 
has  flower  scapes  a  yard  or  more  tall  and  each  bears 
nine  to  eleven  whorls  of  flowers.  The  individual 
flowers  are  a  third  larger  than  those  of  the  Japanese 
Primrose,  rich  crimson  in  color  and  often  twenty  or 
more  in  a  single  whorl.  The  flower  scapes  are 
clothed  with  a  white  farina  and  it  is  this  peculiarity 


240  ARISTOCRATS   OF   THE   GARDEN 

together  with  its  large  flowers  and  taller  scapes  that 
makes  this  new  plant  so  very  superior  to  P.  japonica 
and  undoubtedly  one  of  the  very  finest  of  all  hardy 
Primroses.  There  is  an  albino  form,  known  as  var. 
Mrs.  R.  V.  Berkeley,  which  has  cream-white  flowers 
each  with  a  rich  orange-colored  eye,  and  is  a  worthy 
companion  to  the  crimson-flowered  type.  In  Massa- 
chusetts P.  pulverulenta  thrives  and  is  perfectly  hardy; 
in  one  garden  I  know,  that  of  General  Stephen  M. 
Weld  at  Dedham,  Mass.,  there  are  large  colonies 
of  this  plant  naturalized  from  self-sown  seeds.  It  is  a 
true  perennial  of  vigorous  growth,  is  very  floriferous, 
and  remains  in  flower  for  a  couple  of  months. 

Primula  Cockburniana  has  neat  obovate,  pale 
green  leaves  and  bright  orange-scarlet  flowers,  each 
an  inch  across,  and  borne  in  several  whorls  on  scapes 
from  one  to  one  and  a  half  feet  high.  The  color  of  the 
flowers  in  this  Primrose  is  unique  in  the  family  and  is 
one  of  the  rarest  colors  in  the  vegetable  kingdom, 
but,  unfortunately,  the  plant  is  virtually  a  biennial. 
Hybridists,  however,  have  secured  several  crosses 
between  it  and  P.  pulverulenta  and  some  of  these 
hybrids  have  the  perennial  character  of  the  last 
named  and  flowers  of  the  same  color  as  those  of  P. 
Cockburniana.  In  stature  and  habit  these  hybrids — 
to  which  the  names  Unique  and  Unique  Improved 


NEW   HERBACEOUS   PLANTS  241 

have  been  given  by  the  raisers — are  intermediate,  and 
there  is  every  possibility  of  a  new  race  of  hardy  Prim- 
roses, distinguished  by  their  remarkable  orange- 
scarlet-colored  flowers,  being  developed  from  these 
two  species.  A  shady  position,  fairly  heavy  loam, 
cow  dung,  and  an  abundance  of  water  at  the  roots 
are  the  essentials  for  the  successful  culture  of  these 
Primroses.  An  ideal  spot  is  the  side  of  a  woodland 
stream  free  of  rank  weeds. 

The  third  species  (P.  Veitchii)  is  a  true  perennial, 
with  leaves  resembling  those  of  P.  obconica  but  with 
a  dense  felt  of  white  hairs  covering  the  underside. 
The  flowers  are  of  a  pleasing  bright  rose  color  and  are 
freely  produced  in  whorls  on  scapes  from  one  to  one  and 
a  half  feet  tall.  A  hardy  P.  obconica  with  non-poison- 
ous leaves  sums  up  P.  Veitchii.  A  light  loamy  soil  rich 
in  leaf-mold  and  a  moderately  dry  situation  are  neces- 
sary for  its  successful  cultivation  and  under  such  con- 
ditions it  will  naturalize  itself. 

Although  not  hardy  except  in  the  warmer  parts  of 
this  country  Corydalis  thalictrifolia  and  C.  Wilsonii 
deserve  mention  here.  The  first  has  leaves  rather 
fleshy  in  texture  in  shape  resembling  those  of  a 
Maidenhair  Fern,  and  very  numerous  erect  racemes 
of  large  clear  yellow  flowers.  The  other  is  a  smaller 
plant  with  finely  cut  leaves,  covered  with  a  white 


242  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

farina,  and  erect  racemes  of  deep  yellow  flowers. 
If  seeds  be  sown  in  May  in  a  cool  greenhouse  and  the 
seedlings  potted  on  they  will  flower  the  following 
winter.  Their  culture  is  of  the  simplest  and  those  on 
the  look-out  for  pleasing  decorative  plants,  for  basket 
or  pot  culture  in  a  cool  greenhouse,  will  do  well  to 
give  C.  thalictrifolia  and  C.  Wilsonii  a  trial. 

Lilies  belong  in  the  category  of  herbaceous  peren- 
nials and  I  am  tempted  to  add  a  word  on  their  behalf. 
At  the  commencement  of  this  chapter  it  is  emphat- 
ically laid  down  that  a  rich  soil  is  necessary  to  obtain 
full  results  in  the  herbaceous  border.  Lilies  are  an 
exception.  To  them  manure  is  absolutely  inimical 
and  I  do  so  much  wish  that  lovers  of  these  flowers 
would  appreciate  this  fundamental  truth.  It  is  true 
that  some,  like  Lilium  tigrinum  and  L.  Henryi,  will 
withstand  abuse  in  this  direction  as  in  others,  but 
there  are  very  few  that  can.  The  herbaceous  border 
with  its  rich  soil  is  not  the  place  for  Lilies.  They 
should  be  planted  in  association  with  low-growing 
shrubs,  as  stated  in  Chapter  II. 

In  the  Regal  Lily  (L.  regale)  it  is  generally  conceded 
that  garden  lovers  have  a  "jewel  beyond  price,"  but 
the  discoverer  is  fearful  lest  its  admirers  undo  it  with 
kindness.  Loam,  leaf-soil,  good  drainage,  and  full 
exposure  to  sun  and  air  are  the  essentials  demanded 


NEW   HERBACEOUS   PLANTS  243 

by  this  Lily.  Do  not  give  it  fertilizer  in  any  form  any 
more  than  you  would  give  an  infant  in  arms  beef- 
steak. And  this  is  true  for  Lilies  generally  in  the 
outdoor  garden  where  they  are  planted  in  the  hopes 
of  their  yielding  flowers  from  year  to  year.  Mulch 
them  with  leaves  in  the  fall  but  do  not,  if  you  value 
your  Lilies,  feed  them  with  manure. 


CHAPTER  XIV 
"HARDY" RHODODENDRONS 

AMERICA'S  NEEDS  AND  THE  OPPORTUNITIES  TO  MEET 

THEM — WHAT   MUST   BE   DONE   TO   SHAKE  OFF  THE 

SHACKLES  OF  EUROPE'S  MODELS 

RHODODENDRONS  are  in  the  forefront  among 
hardy  ornamental  shrubs  and  are  warm 
favorites  in  the  gardens  of  this  country 
and  of  Europe  and  more  especially  those  of  the  Brit- 
ish Isles.  The  evergreen  section  with  its  bold  foliage 
and  large  clusters  of  handsome  flowers  numbers 
within  its  ranks  some  of  the  noblest  of  all  plants 
found  in  the  north  temperate  regions.  The  section 
with  deciduous  leaves  is  not  surpassed  in  wealth 
of  blossom  by  any  class  of  hardy  shrubs.  The  flow- 
ers vary  enormously  in  size  in  the  different  species 
and  embrace  all  shades  of  every  color  except  blue. 
In  many  the  flowers  are  delightfully  fragrant  and 
where  the  climate  is  congenial  the  season  of  flower- 
ing is  virtually  continuous  the  year  round.  Small 
wonder  then  that  the  desire  to  possess  them  is  so 
very  general.  No  class  of  shrubs  possesses  greater 
attractions,  and  given  certain  essential  conditions 

244 


HARDY"  RHODODENDRONS  245 

and  provided  the  varieties  planted  are  perfectly 
hardy  their  culture  is  fairly  simple.  But  in  the  colder 
parts  of  the  United  States  of  America  the  climate  is 
such  that  only  the  very  toughest  of  existing  varieties 
survive  the  summer  drought  and  winter  cold,  and  the 
need  of  a  more  enduring  race  is  patent.  In  this 
chapter  it  is  proposed  to  go  fairly  exhaustively  over 
the  whole  field  of  hardy  Rhododendrons  and  to 
draw  attention  not  only  to  a  majority  of  the  best 
sorts  American  gardens  possess,  but  to  delve  deeper 
and  point  out  a  possible  way  toward  the  attainment 
of  a  race  more  suitable  to  the  climatic  conditions 
that  obtain. 

The  subject  has  many  aspects  but  it  may  be 
opened  by  remarks  on  the  essential  points  in  the  cul- 
ture of  this  class  of  plants  in  general.  Evergreen 
Rhododendrons  are  mainly  woodland,  and  in  a 
measure  also  alpine,  plants,  and  must  never  be  al- 
lowed to  get  dry  at  the  roots.  A  situation  screened 
from  the  morning  sun  and  sheltered  from  cold  cutting 
winds  and  where  the  roots  may  be  kept  cool  is  essen- 
tial to  success.  The  strong  sun  in  March  which 
draws  moisture  from  the  leaves  when  the  ground  is 
frozen  and  the  roots  perforce  incapable  of  making 
good  the  loss  is  a  potent  cause  of  death.  This  in 
conjunction  with  the  tender  strain  in  the  present-day 


246  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

race  and  the  fact  that  the  majority  are  grafted  on  the 
not  hardy  R.  ponticum  very  thoroughly  explain  the  dis- 
appointment so  generally  experienced  by  American 
lovers  of  these  plants,  and  especially  those  who  gar- 
den in  New  England. 

If  practicable  it  is  best  to  plant  these  Rhododen- 
drons in  association  with  trees;  for,  by  so  doing,  they 
receive  a  measure  of  protection  from  the  sun's  direct 
rays.  In  thin  woods  or  on  the  margins  of  such 
woods  are  good  sites  and  if  the  situation  be  open  and 
exposed  a  screen  of  conifers — Hemlock,  White  or  Red 
Pine — should  be  afforded  them.  If  the  situation 
be  such  that  the  roots  are  kept  cool  by  a  thorough 
water-supply,  the  nature  of  the  soil  (always  provided 
it  does  not  contain  lime)  is  of  less  importance  than 
is  often  claimed.  Where  the  White  and  Red  Pine, 
Birch,  Chestnut,  and  White  Oak  thrive,  Rhododen- 
drons will  grow.  A  soil  free  of  lime — sweet,  moist, 
and  porous — and  fairly  rich  in  leaf-soil  is  the  ideal.  A 
decomposed  granitic  soil  rich  in  humus  is  excellent. 
In  the  absence  of  lime,  Rhododendrons  will  grow  in 
good  loamy  soil;  but  it  should  ever  be  remembered 
that  they  are  humus-loving  plants  and  require  to 
be  mulched  with  leaves  and  the  soil  enriched  with 
leaf-soil  or  sandy  peat.  It  is  usually  assumed  that 
peat  is  necessary  in  order  to  grow  these  plants,  but  as 


"HARDY"  RHODODENDRONS       247 

a  matter  of  fact  a  far  greater  number  of  the  species 
find  a  home  on  humus-clad  rocks  and  cliffs  than  in 
peat  swamps. 

in  regions  where  the  seasons  are  milder  than  in 
New  England,  these  Rhododendrons  will  thrive  in 
positions  more  or  less  fully  exposed  to  the  sun;  but 
no  matter  where  they  are  planted  they  must  never  be 
allowed  to  suffer  from  drought.  The  root  system  of 
all  Rhododenrons  is  fibrous  and  scarcely  descends 
more  than  a  foot  below  the  surface.  Obviously  a 
mass  of  fine  hair-like  roots  near  the  surface  of  the 
ground  cannot  withstand  drought  and  the  need  of  a 
mulch  of  leaves  is  clearly  shown.  On  account  of 
their  fibrous  root  system,  Rhododendrons  are  easy 
subjects  to  transplant  provided  this  be  done  with  a 
large  ball  of  earth  and  due  attention  be  given  to 
keeping  them  properly  supplied  with  water  after- 
ward. 

The  hardy  members  of  the  Azalea  section  are  all 
virtually  deciduous  and  a  majority  will  stand  more 
exposure  to  sun  and  drier  conditions  than  will  their 
evergreen  relatives,  but  drought  has  very  evil  effects 
.upon  these  also.  It  is  advisable  to  place  these 
Azaleas  fairly  close  together  and,  as  a  ground  cover, 
to  plant  different  varieties  of  Heather  (Calluna  vul- 
gar is)  and  hardy  Heaths  (Erica  carnea,  E.  vagans), 


248  ARISTOCRATS   OF   THE   GARDEN 

which  are  not  only  pretty  in  themselves  but  mask  the 
ground  from  the  sun's  rays.  Another  and  highly 
important  item  in  the  culture  of  all  Rhododendrons 
is  to  remove  all  flowers  after  they  have  faded  to  pre- 
vent the  development  of  seed  pods  and  to  encourage 
new  growths. 

A  race  of  Rhododendrons  that  will  thrive  in  lime- 
stone soils  is  at  present  a  desideratum.  There  are 
several  Chinese  species  which  grow  naturally  on  such 
soils,  and  it  is  within  the  bounds  of  probability  that 
the  future  may  see  a  race  at  least  indifferent  to  this 
mineral.  At  present,  however,  those  whose  gardens 
are  in  limestone  areas  must  give  up  thoughts  of  grow- 
ing these  plants  unless  they  are  prepared  to  make  elabo- 
rate preparations  and  take  the  risks  involved.  To 
those  desirous  of  such  experiments  it  may  be  pointed 
out  that  mounds  of  prepared  soil  should  be  made  and 
not  dug-out  beds  filled  with  suitable  compost  since 
the  lime  has  a  very  much  smaller  chance  of  impreg- 
nating a  raised  site. 

For  the  purpose  of  this  article  hardy  Rhododen- 
drons may  be  divided  into  two  groups  known  popu- 
larly as  Azalea  and  Rhododendron.  In  the  first  the 
leaves  are  deciduous,  or  nearly  so,  and  rather  small; 
in  the  second  the  leaves  are  persistent  and  usually 

good  size.    These  main  groups  are  pretty  clearly 


"HARDY"  RHODODENDRONS      249 

defined  in  the  minds  of  all  garden  lovers,  but  it  is 
convenient  to  subdivide  them  again:  the  Azaleas 
into  three  smaller  classes  and  the  Rhododendrons 
into  two. 

AZALEA 

The  three  sections  of  Azalea  may  be  briefly  charac- 
terized as  follows: 

a.  RHODORA:  Flowers  from  a  terminal  bud,  leafy 
shoots  from  separate,  axillary  buds;  corolla  almost 
two-lobed;  stamens  seven  to  ten. 

b.  PENTANTHERA:    Corolla    funnel-form,   stamens 
five,  otherwise  as  in  Rhodora. 

c.  TSUTSUTSI:  Flowers  and  shoots  developed  from 
the  same  terminal  bud. 

(a)  The  first  section  includes  the  Rhodora  (R. 
canadense)  and  R.  Vaseyi,  both  good  garden  plants 
which  thrive  best  in  moist  soil  and  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  water.  The  Rhodora  grows  wild  from 
Newfoundland  to  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey, 
and  in  the  North  in  May  covers  large  areas  of  swampy 
land  with  a  sheet  of  bloom.  This  dwarf  shrub,  with 
its  small  rose-purple  flowers,  is  so  well-known  that 
further  details  are  unnecessary.  Early  in  May  R. 
Vaseyi  opens  its  compact  clusters  of  small  pink  flow- 
ers before  its  leaves  appear.  This  Azalea  is  an 


250  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

inhabitant  of  a  few  of  the  high  valleys  of  the  Blue 
Ridge  Mountains  in  South  Carolina  and  had  been 
entirely  overlooked  until  some  thirty  years  ago.  It 
is  a  shrub  with  slender  stems,  and  of  loose,  irregular 
habit,  sometimes  growing  to  the  height  of  from  fifteen 
to  eighteen  feet,  although  under  cultivation  it  begins 
to  blossom  when  less  than  a  foot  high.  It  is  perfectly 
hardy  and  the  pure,  perfect  pink  of  its  flowers  is 
scarcely  equalled  by  that  of  the  flowers  of  any  other 
plant.  There  is  also  a  form  (album)  of  this  species 
with  white  flowers. 

(b)  Eastern  North  America  is  very  poor  in  species 
of  evergreen  Rhododendrons  but  it  can  claim  to  be 
the  richest  region  in  the  world  for  the  section  Pentan- 
thera.  Of  the  thirteen  species  belonging  to  this  group 
eight  are  native  of  the  Atlantic  seaboard,  and  one 
(R.  occidentals)  of  the  western  slopes  of  the  Cascade 
and  Sierra  Nevada  mountains  of  the  West,  and  an- 
other (R.  sonomense),  with  smaller  rose-colored  fra- 
grant flowers,  grows  on  dry  slopes  of  the  mountains 
near  San  Francisco,  but  is  not  in  cultivation.  Of  the 
other  three,  one  (R.  japonicum)  is  confined  to  Japan 
and  Korea,  another  (R.  sinense)  to  eastern  and  cen- 
tral China,  and  the  third  (R.  luteuni)  to  the  Caucasus 
— the  region  in  Asia  Minor  bordering  the  Black  Sea 
and  known  in  ancient  times  as  Pontus — and  to  Galicia 


" HARDY"  RHODODENDRONS  251 

where  only  recently  it  has  been  discovered.  Of  the 
American  species  of  this  group  five  are  well  estab- 
lished in  the  Arnold  Arboretum  and  no  group  of 
plants  perfectly  suited  to  our  climate  surpasses 
them  in  beauty.  The  first  to  open  their  flowers  are 
R.  canescens  and  R.  nudiflomm.  Both  have  fragrant 
pale  rose  or  pink  flowers  of  various  shades  which 
appear  before  the  leaves  or  just  as  they  begin  to 
unfold.  In  general  appearance  these  two  plants 
are  very  similar  but  one  is  a  southern  and  the  other  a 
northern  plant  though  there  are  places  where  they 
grow  together.  The  plants  are  twiggy,  of  medium 
size,  and  grow  singly  or  in  great  masses  on  treeless  hill- 
sides or  in  open  woods.  Rhododendron  canescens  is 
very  abundant  in  parts  of  Worcester  County,  Mass., 
and  R.  nudiflorum  is  especially  common  in  the  Gulf 
States  from  eastern  Florida  to  eastern  Texas. 

The  next  to  blossom  is  -R.  calendulaceum,  the  Yellow 
Azalea  of  the  Appalachian  Mountain  slopes  which 
opens  its  flowers  early  in  June.  The  color  varies 
from  bright  yellow  to  orange  or  shades  of  red  and 
the  beauty  is  heightened  by  contrast  with  the  dark 
green  leaves  which  are  well  grown  before  the  flowers 
open.  It  is  a  rather  slow-growing  but  long-lived 
plant,  from  eight  to  ten  feet  tall,  and  the  beauty  of 
its  brilliant-colored  flowers  is  not  surpassed  by  those 


252  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE    GARDEN 

of  any  other  Azalea.  The  Yellow  Azalea  is  followed 
by  R.  arborescens,  another  inhabitant  of  the  glades  of 
the  Appalachian  Mountains  from  Pennsylvania  to 
Georgia,  which  blooms  about  mid-June.  This  is  a 
tall  shrub,  growing  from  ten  to  fifteen  feet  high,  with 
large,  pure  white,  very  fragrant  flowers,  the  beauty 
of  which  is  increased  by  the  bright  scarlet  color  of 
the  long  exserted  stamen-filaments  and  styles.  The 
leaves  are  pale  colored  and  are  full  grown  before  the 
flowers  open.  The  last  to  flower  is  R.  viscosum,  the 
Clammy  Azalea  or  Swamp  Honeysuckle,  a  common 
inhabitant  of  swamps  near  the  Atlantic  seaboard, 
which  does  not  open  its  flowers  until  July.  It  is  a 
shrub  of  medium  size  with  small,  very  fragrant,  pure 
white  blossoms  covered  with  sticky  hairs  and  the 
leaves  are  often  pale  bluish,  especially  on  the  lower 
surface.  The  plant  is  valuable  for  the  lateness  of 
its  flowers,  which  continue  to  open  for  weeks  when 
those  of  most  shrubs  are  past. 

These  five  Azaleas  are  all  good  garden  plants  which 
take  kindly  to  cultivation  and  thrive  in  ordinary  soil  in 
either  open  or  shady  situations. 

Of  the  other  American  species  of  this  section,  seed- 
lings of  R.  austrinum,  R.  candidum,  andR.flammeum  are 
growing  in  the  Arnold  Arboretum,  but  it  is  too  early  to 
judge  of  their  merits  as  garden  plants.  The  first  has 


'HARDY"  RHODODENDRONS       253 

pale  yellow  flowers  appearing  before  the  leaves  and  is 
native  of  the  valley  of  the  Apalachicola  River  in 
western  Florida;  the  second  has  white  or  pale  pink 
flowers  which  appear  after  the  leaves  and  is  native 
of  southern  Georgia;  the  third  species  (R.  flammeum) 
is  common  in  open  woods  in  parts  of  central  Georgia. 
The  Western  R.  occidentals  with  its  lovely  white  flowers 
has  not  yet  been  successfully  acclimatized  in  the  Arnold 
Arboretum. 

The  Chinese  R.  sinense  has  large,  rich  yellow  flow- 
ers and  is  almost  hardy  with  us;  the  other  east  Asiatic 
species  (R.  japonicum)  is  perfectly  hardy  and  its 
large  flame-colored  flowers  are  very  handsome.  These 
species  grow  from  four  to  six  feet  high  and  have  stiff 
and  relatively  thick  ascending  branches.  The  re- 
maining species  (R.  luteum,  or  incorrectly  R.  flavum), 
commonly  known  as  Azalea  pontica,  is  not  hardy  in 
the  Arnold  Arboretum.  It  has  been  much  used  in 
hybridizing  as  we  shall  presently  see,  but  it  is  doubt- 
ful if  the  true  species  is  in  cultivation  in  this  country. 

As  shown  above  there  is  a  great  range  of  color  in  the 
American  Azaleas  and  being  perfectly  hardy  one 
would  naturally  expect  to  find  them  very  generally 
planted  in  the  gardens  of  eastern  North  America. 
Such,  however,  is  not  the  case  for  the  simple  reason 
that  it  is  difficult  to  procure  them,  for  very  few  Amer- 


254  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

lean  nurserymen  are  willing  to  devote  the  time  and 
trouble  necessary  to  raise  these  plants  from  seeds,  the 
only  successful  way  in  which  they  can  be  propagated. 
In  the  absence  of  these  plants  and  in  ignorance 
of  their  value  and  beauty,  resource  is  made  to  the  so- 
called  Ghent  Azaleas — a  race  of  enchanting  hybrids, 
but  short  lived,  indifferently  hardy,  and  not  suited 
to  the  climate  of  New  England.  As  pot  plants  for 
forcing  purposes  it  is  all  very  well  to  import  them 
from  Europe  by  the  shipload,  but  for  the  embellish- 
ment of  the  outdoor  garden  in  the  colder  parts  of  this 
country  they  cannot  be  recommended.  Much  may 
be  learnt  from  history  in  the  matter  of  plants  as  in 
that  of  mankind,  and  the  outlines  of  the  origin  of 
these  so-called  Ghent  Azaleas  are  instructive.  In  1738, 
Peter  Collinson  introduced  from  this  country  into 
England,  R.  nudiflorum,  R.  viscosum,  and  JR.  calendu- 
laceum;  in  1793,  R.  luteum  was  introduced  from  the 
region  bordering  the  Black  Sea.  This  Pontus  Azalea 
has  fragrant,  bright  yellow  flowers  each  two  inches 
across  and  its  value  as  a  garden  plant  was  soon  recog- 
nized. In  a  few  years  a  great  number  of  hybrids 
between  it  and  its  American  relatives  were  raised  in 
England.  The  work  was  soon  taken  up  in  Ghent, 
first  by  a  baker  named  Mortier  and  afterward  by 
various  nurserymen  of  whom  Van  Houtte  was  the 


"HARDY"  RHODODENDRONS       255 

first  to  raise  forms  having  double  flowers.  But 
R.  luteum  came  from  a  warm  climate  and  its  influence 
on  hybrid  offspring  has  been  toward  a  dislike  of  low 
temperatures.  In  a  measure  this  explains  the  lack 
of  success  experienced  by  garden  lovers  of  New  Eng- 
land with  these  Ghent  Azaleas.  It  is  probable  that 
if  seeds  of  R.  luteum  were  obtained  from  its  altitu- 
dinal  limits  in  the  Caucasus  or  from  Galicia  a  hardier 
type  would  result. 

Another  class  of  Rhododendrons  much  cultivated 
in  Belgium  is  that  known  as  Mollis  Azaleas.  This 
has  resulted  from  the  intercrossing  of  R.  sinense  and 
R.  japonicum  with  various  Ghent  Azaleas.  The  class 
is  a  very  beautiful  one  but  is  not  more  hardy  in  New 
England  than  the  pure  Ghents. 

(c)  Under  the  name  Tsutsutsi  the  Japanese  in- 
clude most  of  the  Azaleas  known  in  Japan,  and 
of  the  three  species  of  this  section  which  it  is  nec- 
essary to  mention  here  two  grow  naturally  in  the 
Land  of  the  Rising  Sun  and  the  other  in  Korea. 
The  most  important  is  the  scarlet-flowered  R.  Kaemp- 
feri  which  was  introduced  by  Professor  Sargent 
in  1892,  and  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  shrubs  that 
gardens  of  eastern  North  America  have  received  from 
Japan.  It  is  a  deciduous  and  perfectly  hardy  shrub 
with  slender  stems  and  twiggy  branchlets  and  grows 


256  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

from  three  to  eight  feet  high.  The  blossoms  open 
about  mid-May  and  the  plants  are  a  perfect  blaze  of 
color  for  one  to  two  weeks.  Where  fully  exposed  to 
the  sun  the  flowers  bleach,  and  to  enjoy  the  full 
beauty  of  this  shrub  it  should  be  planted  in  partial 
shade.  It  is  good  as  a  specimen  bush  but  it  is  better 
when  massed.  The  other  Japanese  species,  R.  rhom- 
bicum,  is  a  shrub  growing  from  four  to  ten  feet  high 
with  slender  rigid  stems  and  rich  red-purple  flowers  in 
small  clusters.  It  is  perfectly  hardy  and  thrives  in 
the  open  or  in  partial  shade. 

The  Korean  species  (R.  poukhanense)  is  a  new  in- 
troduction and  was  raised  in  the  Arnold  Arboretum 
from  seeds  sent  by  Mr.  J.  G.  Jack  from  Korea  in  1905. 
In  cultivation  it  is  a  low,  much-branched,  very  com- 
pact round-headed  shrub  and  perfectly  hardy.  The 
dark  green,  oblong,  pointed  leaves  are  deciduous  and 
the  flowers  are  rosy  mauve  or  red-violet  in  color  and 
delightfully  fragrant.  This  new  Azalea  flowers  very 
freely  and  promises  to  be  an  excellent  plant  for  the 
open  border  or  for  the  rockery.  A  double-flowered 
form  is  in  cultivation  under  the  name  of  Azalea 
yodogawa,  but  this  plant  is  very  inferior  to  the  type 
species. 

There  are  other  well-known  and  beautiful  Azaleas 
like  R.  amoenum,  R.  obtusum,  and  R.  ledifolium — unfor- 


"HARDY"  RHODODENDRONS      257 

tunately  not  quite  hardy  in  New  England — and  rarer 
species  like  R.  Schlippenbachii  and  R.  Albrechtii,  but  we 
must  hasten  to  deal  with  our  second  main  division. 

RHODODENDRON 

Hardy  evergreen  Rhododendrons  may  be  divided 
into  two  groups  characterized  by  the  nature  of  the 
undersurface  of  the  leaves.  In  one  the  underside  of 
the  leaf  is  more  or  less  densely  dotted  with  small, 
often  brownish,  scale-like  glands;  in  the  other  it  is 
either  smooth  and  green,  or  more  or  less  hairy  (often 
densely  felted)  or  clothed  with  a  pale  or  dun-colored 
crustaceous  covering. 

(a)  The  group  with  dotted  leaves  is  a  very  extensive 
one  and  a  great  number  of  species  grow  on  the  moun- 
tains of  western  China  and  on  the  Himalayas  and  three 
(R.  carolinianum,  R.  minus,  and  R.  lapponicum)  are 
native  of  eastern  North  America.  All  have  small  or 
comparatively  small  leaves  but  only  a  very  limited 
number  have  proved  to  be  hardy  and  amenable  to 
cultivation  in  this  country.  Many  of  them  may  be 
rooted  from  cuttings,  but  it  has  been  found  difficult  to 
hybridize  them  with  members  of  other  groups.  As  a 
garden  plant  for  this  country,  R.  carolinianum  is  by 
far  the  best  species  of  this  group  and  is  one  of  the 
very  finest  of  all  broad-leaved  Evergreens  hardy  in 


258  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

Massachusetts.  It  is  a  shrub  of  compact  habit  from 
four  to  six  feet  tall  and  as  much  in  diameter,  with 
handsome  dark  green  leaves  and  is  very  floriferous. 
The  flowers  are  pale  to  deep  pink  and  are  borne  in 
clusters  and  open  and  fade  before  the  young  branches 
begin  to  grow  and  therefore  are  not  hidden  by  them. 
The  species  is  native  of  high  altitudes  in  the  southern 
Appalachian  region  and  was  formerly  confused  with 
R.  minus,  which  grows  in  the  same  region  but  at  a 
lower  level,  under  the  collective  name  of  R.  punctatum. 
Rhododendron  minus  is  an  old  denizen  of  gardens  and  has 
smaller  leaves  and  flowers  and  a  more  open  habit  than 
R.  carolinianum  and  the  flower  clusters  are  much 
hidden  by  the  young  branches  which  rise  high  above 
them.  The  third  native  species  (R.  lapponicum)  is 
an  alpine  plant  which  also  grows  wild  in  Europe  and 
has  proved  a  difficult  subject  under  cultivation. 

The  two  dwarf  Rhododendrons  (R.  ferrugineum 
and  R.  hirsutum),  natives  of  the  mountains  of  central 
Europe,  are  unsatisfactory  in  New  England  but  three 
hybrids  between  them  and  the  American  R.  minus  and 
R.  carolinianum  are  valuable  garden  plants  in  this 
climate.  One  of  these  hybrids  (R.  myrtifolium)  is  be- 
tween R.  hirsutum  and  R.  carolinianum  and  is  a  very 
compact  round-topped  shrub,  from  two  to  four  feet 
in  height  and  as  much  through,  with  neat  foliage  and 


"HARDY"  RHODODENDRONS       259 

small,  pretty  pink  flowers.  Another  (R.  laetevirens), 
known  in  gardens  as  R.  Wilsonii,  is  a  cross  between  R. 
ferrugineum  and  R.  minus  and  is  a  shrub  of  open, 
spreading  habit  and  forms  low,  wide  masses.  The 
foliage  is  light  green  and  handsome  but  the  flowers  are 
small  and  of  an  unattractive  rose  color  and  the  value  of 
the  plant  is  in  its  ability  to  cover  either  sunny  or  shady 
banks  and  for  this  it  is  admirably  adapted.  The 
third  hybrid  is  R.  arbutifolium  and  is  probably  also 
a  cross  between  R.  ferrugineum  and  R.  minus.  It  is 
not  so  good  a  garden  plant  as  R.  laetevirens. 

From  the  cold  regions  of  Mandshuria  and  Korea 
came  R.  dahuricum  and  R.  mucronulatum,  which 
though  they  belong  to  dotted-leaved  group  have 
deciduous  leaves.  These  grow  from  four  to  eight 
feet  high  and  are  sparsely  branched.  In  the 
first  named  the  flowers  are  deep  rose-purple  and 
pink,  and  rose-colored  in  R.  mucronulatum.  They 
are  the  earliest  of  this  class  to  open  their  flowers 
and  in  consequence  these  are  often  spoilt  by  late 
frosts  in  the  spring.  Other  early-flowering  Rhodo- 
dendrons are  R.  praecox  and  its  variety  Early  Gem, 
which  are  the  result  of  crossing  the  Himalayan  R. 
ciliatum  and  R.  dahuricum.  Both  are  evergreen 
bushes,  much  branched  and  compact  in  habit  and 
have  pale  to  deep  pink  flowers.  In  favorable  seasons 


260  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

when  the  flowers  escape  late  frosts  these  plants  are 
very  beautiful  in  spring,  but  unfortunately  this  rarely 
happens. 

Valuable  for  the  rockery  and  partial  to  sunshine 
are  R.  mcemosum,  R.  flavidum,  and  R.  intricatum,  three 
new-comers  from  China.  They  are  twiggy  plants 
growing  from  four  to  six  feet  high  and  may  be  rooted 
from  cuttings.  The  first  named  was  introduced  into 
Paris  about  1890,  and  has  pure  pink  to  rose-colored 
flowers.  The  other  two  were  introduced  into  England 
by  myself  in  1904,  and  one,  as  its  name  suggests,  has 
pale  yellow  blossoms  while  those  of  R.  intricatum  are 
pale  violet.  These  species  are  very  floriferous  alpine 
plants  with  small  leaves  and  flowers  and  of  neat  and 
charming  habit. 

The  only  other  species  of  this  group  that  need  be 
mentioned  is  R.  micranthum,  also  from  China,  which 
has  clusters  of  minute  Ledum-like  white  flowers 
and  small  leaves.  It  is  a  hardy  plant  of  twiggy 
growth  well  suited  for  massing  and  grows  from  four 
to  six  feet  tall. 

(b)  We  now  come  to  the  last  group,  the  most  valu- 
able and  desirable  of  all,  and  the  one  with  which  most 
people  associate  the  name  Rhododendron.  As  met 
with  in  gardens  and  in  nurseries  this  group  is  mainly 
of  hybrid  origin  and  I  may  preface  what  follows  by  an 


"HARDY"  RHODODENDRONS  261 

enumeration  of  the  best  varieties  which  the  experi- 
ence of  the  Arnold  Arboretum  has  found  most  adapt- 
able to  this  climate.  With  red  flowers — Atrosanguin- 
eum  (very  early),  Charles  Dickens,  H.  W.  Sargent 
(late);  with  reddish  flowers — Caractacus;  with  rose- 
colored  flowers — Roseum  elegans,  Lady  Armstrong; 
with  pink  flowers — Mrs.  Charles  Sargent,  Henrietta 
Sargent;  with  dark  purple  flowers — Purpureum  grandi- 
florum,  Purpureum  elegans;  with  light  purple  flowers 
— Everestianum;  with  white  or  nearly  white  flowers, 
Album  elegans,  Album  grandiflorum,  Catawbiense 
album  (very  early).  A  few  more  are  mentioned 
later  on  in  the  text  and  one  or  two  others,  for  exam- 
ple, the  white-flowered  Madame  Carvalho,  are  prom- 
ising. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  number  is  very  small,  and 
also  it  must  be  pointed  out  that  in  the  Arnold  Ar- 
boretum these  plants  occupy  a  very  favorable  posi- 
tion at  the  base  of  a  steep  slope  clothed  with  Hemlock 
and  therefore  much  protected.  Had  this  chapter 
been  written  two  or  three  years  ago  one  might  have 
included  other  varieties  such  as  Mrs.  H.  H.  Hunne- 
well,  King  of  the  Purples,  and  Delicatissimum,  but 
longer  experience  has  proved  them  less  hardy  than 
was  generally  supposed. 

The  mild  winter  of  1914-15  will  long  be  remembered 


262  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

by  all  lovers  of  evergreen  Rhododendrons  who  endea- 
vor to  grow  these  plants  out  of  doors  in  New  England. 
The  effects  in  general  were  disastrous  though  fortu- 
nately there  were  exceptions.  In  some  gardens  these 
Rhododendrons  came  through  exceptionally  well, 
in  others  the  mortality  was  greater  than  ever  before. 
In  the  Arnold  Arboretum  varieties  for  twenty  years 
considered  "ironclad"  were  killed  outright.  No  gen- 
eral statement  can  possibly  explain  these  inconsis- 
tencies, but  the  fact  outstanding  is  that  for  New  Eng- 
land a  tougher  and  more  adaptable  race  of  evergreen 
Rhododendrons  is  absolutely  necessary  if  they  are 
to  occupy  in  gardens  the  permanent  place  their 
beauty  merits.  Continuing  to  import  plants  bred 
and  nurtured  in  alien  lands  where  milder  climates 
prevail  will  not  solve  the  difficulty.  Neither  will  dig- 
ging plants  from  the  mountains  of  Pennsylvania, 
shipping  them  in  carload  lots  to  furnish  the  estate 
and  coaxing  them  in  every  possible  way.  This  de- 
spoiling of  the  countryside  is  most  reprehensible. 
It  is  vandalism;  it  is  destructive  and  absolutely  op- 
posed to  the  true  spirit  of  gardening  which  essays  to 
be  constructive.  None  of  the  easy  and  apparent 
short  cuts  will  attain  the  object.  The  problem  has 
to  be  studied  from  a  very  opposite  viewpoint  and 
attacked  accordingly.  True  horticulturists  should 


"HARDY"  RHODODENDRONS       263 

welcome  it  since  it  affords  much  scope  and  opportun- 
ity to  prove  their  worth. 

OUR   VITAL   NEED 

Let  us  dig  casually  into  the  subject  and  look  the 
facts  squarely  in  the  face,  and  having  realized  our 
situation  perhaps  some  one  will  seize  the  vast  oppor- 
tunity that  awaits.  What  American  gardens  need 
is  a  race  of  evergreen  Rhododendrons  with  good  foli- 
age, and  large  and  bright-colored  flowers,  that  is 
perfectly  hardy.  It  is  admitted  that  the  few  kinds 
enumerated  earlier  have  endured  the  summer  drought, 
the  winter  cold,  and  the  March  sun  of  New  England 
more  or  less  satisfactorily  for  a  number  of  years  but 
they  are  still  uncertain  and  owners  breathe  freely 
each  May  when  they  find  their  plants  alive  and 
healthy.  In  Massachusetts  large  sums  of  money  have 
been  spent  on  these  plants  but  the  results  on  the  whole 
are  discouraging  and  some  who  have  given  much  in 
time,  labor,  and  money  in  the  attempt  to  make  this 
class  of  Rhododendrons  grow  successfully  are  losing 
or  have  lost  hope.  Such  are  the  facts  of  the  present- 
day  situation  in  New  England  and  it  is  pertinent  to 
ask:  Is  there  a  remedy  or  a  way  out  of  the  difficulty? 

I  make  bold  to  say  that  there  is,  but  it  entails 
beginning  again.  It  means  commencing  here  in  New 


264  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

England  and  elsewhere  in  this  country,  and  breeding 
a  race  suited  to  the  climatic  conditions  which  obtain; 
it  means  abandoning  the  old  and  lazy  policy  of  rely- 
ing upon  other  lands  to  supply  our  needs  in  this  re- 
spect; it  means  that  we  must  do  here  what  Europe 
has  done,  namely,  work  out  our  own  salvation.  We 
start  later  than  they  across  the  Atlantic  but  we  start 
with  great  advantages  including  those  which  have 
accrued  from  the  labors  of  the  past.  A  little  of  that 
concentrated  effort  and  skill  which  have  produced  that 
most  typical  of  American  floral  products — the  Per- 
petual-flowering Carnation — would  yield  us  our  de- 
sire in  the  matter  of  a  race  of  hardy  broad-leaved 
evergreen  Rhododendrons. 

The  present-day  race  of  evergreen  Rhododendrons 
is  essentially  an  English  product  and  to  better  under- 
stand the  subject  let  us  briefly  investigate  its  early 
history.  No  Rhododendron  is  native  of  the  British 
Isles  and  the  first  of  the  evergreen  section  to  be  intro- 
duced was  R.  maximum,  indigenous  in  eastern  North 
America,  which  flowered  for  the  first  time  in  London 
in  1756.  A  few  years  later  (1763)  R.  ponticum  was 
introduced  and  was  followed  in  1803  by  R.  caucasi- 
cum.  The  American  R.  catawbiense  was  introduced 
by  John  Fraser  about  1809,  and  was  common  in  gar- 
dens in  1838.  Here  are  the  beginnings  of  the  Rhodo- 


"HARDY"  RHODODENDRONS       265 

dendron  cult  in  England.  Of  these  four  species  two 
only  (R.  ponticum  and  R.  catawbiense)  have  played  a 
major  part. 

As  a  breeder  R.  ponticum  has  been  the  greatest 
asset  and  although  its  color  is  not  good  it  has  proved 
extraordinarily  adaptable  in  Great  Britain  and  Ire- 
land. This  species  grows  wild  in  southern  Spain 
and  in  Asia  Minor,  in  Syria,  and  the  warmer  parts 
of  the  Caucasus.  These  regions  enjoy  a  much 
warmer  climate  than  does  New  England  and  from 
our  viewpoint  it  is  a  tender  species  and  unsuit- 
able as  a  breeder.  Also,  for  the  same  reason,  it  ought 
not  to  be  used  as  a  stock  for  grafting,  yet,  unfortu- 
nately, it  is  the  stock  so  employed.  An  appreciation 
of  these  facts  explains  in  a  large  measure  the  doubtful 
hardiness  and  uncertainty  of  the  present-day  race 
of  Rhododendrons  since  the  blood  of  this  tender  spe- 
cies enters  largely  into  the  majority  of  the  varieties. 

In  the  matter  of  hardiness  the  American  JR.  cataw- 
biense has  been  the  greatest  of  all  gifts  in  the  realm 
of  Rhododendron,  and  the  hardiness  of  our  present- 
day  race  depends  almost  solely  upon  the  dominant 
influence  of  the  blood  of  this  species. 

Rhododendron  caucasicum  is  native  of  the  higher 
Caucasus  peaks  and  should  be  of  much  value  to  us 
since  it  is  quite  hardy  in  New  England.  Unfortu- 


266  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

nately  it  has  been  very  little  used  by  hybridists  but 
such  offspring  as  Boule  de  Niege,  Coriaceum,  Jack- 
sonii,  and  Mont  Blanc  are  very  satisfactory  plants  in 
the  Arnold  Arboretum. 

Our  native  R.  maximum,  though  the  first  species 
introduced  into  cultivation,  has  played  a  very  unim- 
portant part  in  the  evolution  of  present-day  Rhodo- 
dendrons. In  a  manner  it  has  been  disappointing, 
yet  it  is  questionable  whether  it  has  had  a  fair  chance. 
To  us  its  hardiness  and  late  flowering  are  qualities 
of  vast  import. 

The  first  authentic  hybrid  is  considered  to  have 
arisen  accidentally  about  1820,  between  R.  ponticum 
and  R.  nudiflorum  (an  American  species  of  the  Azalea 
section),  and  is  still  in  cultivation  under  the  names  of 
R.  odoratum  and  R.  azaleoides.  About  the  same  time 
R.  catawbiense  was  crossed  with  R.  ponticum  but  the 
results  were  unimportant.  Other  early  hybrids  were 
Hybrid  Maximum  (R.  ponticum  x  JR.  maximum)  and 
Caucasicum  album  (R.  ponticum  album  x  R.  cau- 
casicum). 

The  earliest-introduced  species  were  lacking  in 
color  and  their  hybrid  offspring  had  the  same  defect. 
In  1811,  the  Himalayan  R.  arboreum  with  intense  red 
flowers  was  introduced  into  England  and  this  marked 
an  epoch  in  the  cult  of  the  Rhododendron.  The  first 


"HARDY"  RHODODENDRONS       267 

really  important  hybrid  resulted  from  crossing  R.  ar- 
boreum  and  R.  catawbiense  in  1826,  and  was  named 
R.  altaclarense,  and  the  present-day  race  may  be  said 
to  date  from  that  period.  But  this  magnificent 
Himalayan  species  is  less  hardy  than  R.  ponticum  and 
is  quite  unsuited  to  the  climate  of  New  England. 
Furthermore,  it  flowers  very  early,  which  is  another 
drawback. 

Until  about  1850,  these  were  the  only  species  of 
this  section  of  Rhododendron  in  cultivation  and  such 
hybrids  as  were  raised  resulted  from  their  interbreed- 
ing and  that  of  their  offspring.  In  1848,  R.  Griffithi- 
anum  was  introduced  to  England  from  the  Sikkim 
Himalayas,  and  in  1855,  R.  Fortunei  from  eastern 
China.  These  two  species  have  given  birth  to  many 
wonderful  hybrids,  but,  alas,  all  of  them  too  tender 
for  this  climate.  Other  Himalayan  species  have 
played  a  part  in  the  evolution  of  the  wonderful 
variety  of  Rhododendrons  eminently  suited  to  the 
moist  and  mild  climate  of  the  British  Isles,  but  their 
influence  has  not  made  for  a  race  of  value  to  eastern 
North  America. 

In  a  general  way  it  may  be  said  that  Rhododendron 
breeders  in  England  until  late  in  the  nineteenth 
century  kept  away  from  the  species  as  much  as  possi- 
ble and  intermingled  the  blood  of  the  best  of  the 


268  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

hybrids.  Some,  like  the  famous  house  of  Waterer, 
never  lost  sight  of  the  invaluable  quality  of  hardiness 
possessed  by  R.  catawbiense  and  it  is  these  men  that 
we  must  thank  for  such  blessings  as  we  possess  among 
the  present-day  race.  Latterly  the  species  have  been 
more  favored  for  breeding  in  England;  and  in  Corn- 
wall, since  the  advent  of  a  host  of  new  ones  from  China, 
Rhododendrons  may  be  seen  in  bloom  in  every  month 
of  the  year. 

Such  are  the  bald  outlines  of  the  Rhododendron 
cult  in  England,  and  for  our  purpose  there  is  no 
necessity  to  go  more  deeply  into  the  matter.  It  lays 
before  us  the  origin  of  the  present-day  race  and  points 
clearly  to  the  cause  of  its  lack  of  hardiness  in  the 
severe  climate  of  New  England. 

Let  us  now  take  stock  of  the  field  in  general. 
The  regions  where  Rhododendrons  hardy  in  Great 
Britain  grow  naturally  have  been  fairly  well  explored. 
Not  all  the  species  have  been  brought  into  culti- 
vation, but  to-day  we  are  in  a  position  to  take  a  com- 
prehensive view  of  the  whole  situation;  and,  insofar 
as  the  colder  parts  of  this  country  are  concerned, 
certain  fundamental  facts  may  be  deduced.  And  it  is 
on  these  bedrock  facts  that  we  must  rely  and  build  if 
we  are  to  obtain  the  object  desired. 

Rhododendrons  are  found  wild  in  the  moist  tern- 


"HARDY"  RHODODENDRONS       269 

perate  parts  of  the  Northern  Hemisphere  and  a  certain 
group  extends  through  the  tropics  of  Malaysia  to 
northern  Australia,  but  for  the  purpose  of  this  article 
this  group  may  be  eliminated  for  reasons  which  are 
obvious.  Evergreen  Rhododendrons  are  essentially 
mountain  plants  where  a  majority  grow  naturally 
in  woods  and  not  a  few  are  purely  alpine.  No  species 
has  been  found  in  Africa  nor  in  South  America. 
Of  the  large-leaved  section  only  four  species  (R. 
ponticum,  R.  caucasicum,  R.  Smirnowii,  and  R. 
Ungernii)  are  found  in  Europe  and  Asia  Minor 
including  the  Caucasus.  In  North  America  only 
three  species  (R.  maximum,  R.  catawbiense,  and  R. 
californicum)  occur.  Japan  has  but  three  (R.  Metter- 
nichii,  R.  brachycarpum,  and  R.  chrysanthum).  The 
great  concentration  is  in  western  China  and  the 
Himalayas  where  more  than  one  hundred  species  have 
been  discovered.  It  had  been  expected  that  the 
floral  wealth  of  central  and  western  China  would 
add  a  few  species  to  the  list  of  large-leaved 
Rhododendrons  hardy  in  New  England  even  though 
the  Himalayan  region  had  failed  us,  but,  unfortu- 
nately, these  hopes  have  not  been  realized.  Admit- 
ting that  this  is  disappointing  nothing  is  gained  by 
dwelling  upon  it  despondently  and  some  of  these 
Chinese  species  will  yet  stand  us  in  good  stead. 


270  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

Of  the  introduced  species  of  Rhododendron  with 
large  evergreen  leaves  five  only  are  hardy  in  the 
Arnold  Arboretum.  These  are  the  native  R.  maxi- 
mum and  R.  catawbiense,  R.  Smirnowii  and  R.  cau- 
casicum  from  the  Caucasus,  and  R.  brachycarpum  from 
northern  Japan  and  northern  Korea.  One  other 
species  (R.  chrysanthum)  with  pale  yellow  flowers 
ought  to  be  hardy  here  for  it  grows  in  the  cold  regions 
of  northeastern  Asia  and  on  the  tops  of  high  moun- 
tains in  Hokkaido,  Japan,  where  I  have  gathered 
it  in  flower  on  the  last  days  of  July  with  unmelted 
snow  in  patches  lying  around.  It  is,  however,  an 
alpine  plant  and  though  introduced  to  cultivation 
about  1800,  and  again  about  1850,  has  never  been  a 
successful  garden  plant.  This  being  the  case  it  is 
on  the  above-named  five  species  that  all  our  hopes 
are  centred  and  it  is  in  the  commingling  of  their 
blood  that  we  must  look  for  the  foundations  of  a 
race  of  large-leaved  evergreen  Rhododendrons  capa- 
ble of  withstanding  the  rigors  and  vagaries  of  this 
climate.  And  we  are  really  fortunate  to  possess 
five  species  which,  as  we  have  seen,  is  more  than  was 
known  when  the  work  began  in  England. 

Theoretically,  if  the  parents  are  hardy  the  off- 
spring will  be  equally  so,  but  in  plant-breeding  this 
does  not  always  work  out  in  practice.  For  example, 


" HARDY"  RHODODENDRONS  271 

there  are  hybrid  offspring  of  R.  maximum  and  R. 
caiawbien.se  such  as  R.  wellesleyanum,  which  has 
proved  anything  but  hardy.  Again,  in  the  Arnold 
Arboretum  many  plants  of  Delicatissimum,  a  hybrid 
between  these  two  American  species  and  for  the  last 
thirty  years  considered  one  of  the  hardiest  and  most 
desirable  of  the  Rhododendrons  which  have  been 
planted  in  New  England,  died  from  the  effects  of 
the  winter  of  1914-15.  Thus  caution  is  necessary; 
but,  in  cross-breeding  among  the  five  species  of  proven 
hardiness,  there  is  every  possibility  of  evolving  a  very 
tough  hybrid  race.  But  to  ensure  success  it  should 
be  done  in  this  country  as  far  north  as  possible,  so 
that  the  progeny  may  become  inured  to  the  climate 
from  their  babyhood  up. 

Except  in  time  and  place  such  work  as  is  advocated 
here  is  not  altogether  de  novo.  I  do  not  know  whether  R. 
brachycarpum  has  been  experimented  with;  but  the 
others  have,  and  with  encouraging  results,  especially 
/?.  Smirnowii,  a  hybrid  of  which  is  giving  much  satis- 
faction in  the  Arnold  Arboretum.  The  Lace-wing 
Fly  is  a  bad  pest  on  Rhododendrons  in  which  the 
undersurface  of  the  leaf  is  smooth  and  green,  but  it 
cannot  attack  R.  Smirnowii  the  undersurface  of 
whose  leaves  is  clothed  with  a  felt  of  woolly  hairs. 
This  species  promises,  therefore,  to  be  of  value  in 


272  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

other  ways  than  mere  hardiness.  In  Germany,  where 
the  climate  is  more  severe  than  in  Great  Britain, 
a  certain  amount  of  Rhododendron  breeding  has  in 
recent  years  been  done  and  two  hybrids — Viola, 
with  white  flowers,  and  Albert,  with  pale  pink  flowers 
— promise  to  succeed  with  us.  But  it  will  not  solve 
our  problem  if  such  hybrids  are  raised  and  nurtured 
in  lands  where  a  milder  climate  obtains.  Furnish 
the  garden  with  material  grown  in  a  region  as  cold  as 
or  colder  than  that  where  the  garden  is  situated  should 
be  a  fundamental  rule  among  garden  lovers.  If  some 
of  us  spend  a  few  years  in  Florida  and  then  winter 
in  Massachusetts  we  shall  feel  the  cold  more  than 
will  those  who  have  never  left  the  state  and  very 
much  more  so  than  others  inured  to  the  climate  of 
Labrador.  It  is  the  same  with  plants. 

The  results  obtained  by  the  inter-crossing  of  the 
five  hardy  species  will  in  all  probability  be  lacking 
in  color,  and  pale  washy  pink  and  pink  colors  predom- 
inate, for  since  none  of  the  parents  has  highly  colored 
flowers  we  must  not  expect  them  in  the  progeny.  In  the 
historical  note  it  is  shown  that  on  this  account 
Rhododendron  breeding  in  England  languished  for 
years — until  the  advent  of  species  from  the  Hima- 
layas with  deep  rose,  scarlet,  and  crimson  flowers. 
The  intense  colors  in  the  hybrid  Rhododendrons 


"HARDY"  RHODODENDRONS  273 

of  to-day  came  from  this  Himalayan  element  and 
especially  from  R.  arboreum.  Again,  our  position 
here  is  more  fortunate  than  that  of  English  pioneers 
since  the  fruit  of  their  labor  is  at  our  disposal.  To 
give  color  to  our  new  race  we  can  employ  the  red- 
flowered  Atrosanguineum,  Charles  Dickens,  and  H. 
W.  Sargent  which  are  among  the  hardiest  of  all 
hybrids. 

Furthermore,  the  great  wealth  of  material  from 
western  China  is  likely  to  be  of  much  service,  for 
though  it  cannot  withstand  New  England  winters  it 
is  much  hardier  than  the  Himalayan  element  and 
there  are  species  like  -R.  calophytum,  R.  oreodoxa,  R. 
Fargesii,  R.  orbiculare,  and  R.  strigillosum  with  flowers 
of  rich  and  beautiful  colors.  These  and  very  many 
others  are  thriving  and  flowering  in  England  where 
hybrids  between  them  are  being  raised,  and  by  the 
time  our  hardy  home-bred  race  is  ready,  ample  new 
material  to  assist  its  development  will  be  available. 

Gardens  are  destined  to  become  in  this  country 
just  as  popular  and  as  necessary  a  part  of  the  home 
as  they  are  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic  and  who- 
soever works  for  their  advancement  and  embellish- 
ment will  not  labor  in  vain.  On  the  lines  here  briefly 
sketched  there  is  every  reasonable  possibility  of 
breeding  a  race  of  broad-leaved  evergreen  Rhododen- 


274  ARISTOCRATS   OF   THE   GARDEN 

drons  capable  of  withstanding  the  vagaries  of  the 
New  England  climate  and  in  no  respect  inferior  to 
the  present  race  of  hybrids  whose  only  fault  here  is 
its  uncertain  hardiness.  I  have  no  doubt  but  that 
sooner  or  later  some  one,  amateur  or  professional, 
will  take  up  the  task  and  succeed  and  the  monument 
erected  will  be  more  enduring  than  any  of  bronze  or 
stone  for  it  will  have  its  foundation  in  the  hearts  of 
all  who  love  their  country  and  their  home. 


Davidia  involucrata,  appropriately  called  the  Dove  Tree,  is 

indeed  remarkable.     The  larger  bract  is  about  as  large  as  a 

man's  hand,  becoming  pure  white  as  the  flowers  mature.     In 

China  the  tree  grows  to  a  height  of  fifty  feet 


CHAPTER  XV 
THE  STORY  OF  THE  DAVIDIA 

Haw  many  garden  lovers  ever  pause  to  think  of  ihe  means  whereby 
their  gardens  became  endowed  with  multifarious  variety  from  distant 
lands  and  climes;  of  the  time  and  money  expended  in  the  quest,  and 
of  the  toll  paid  in  human  energy  and  life?  Could  the  denizens  of  our 
gardens  give  speech  their  story  would  be  more  engrossing  and  more 
romantic  than  that  told  or  conceived  by  authors  of  the  "best  sellers." 
All  who  love  a  tree  give  heed  for  a  little  while  and  learn  bow  gardens 
came  into  possession  of  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  most  remark" 
able  of  all  trees. 

THE  object  of  the  journey  is  to  collect   a 
quantity  of  seeds  of  a  plant  the  name  of 
which  is  known  to  us.     This  is  the  object 
— do  not  dissipate  time,  energy,  or  money  on  any- 
thing  else.     In   furtherance   of  this  you  will  first 
endeavor  to  visit  Dr.  A.  Henry  at  Szemao,  Yunnan, 
and  obtain  from  him  precise  data  as  to  the  habitat  of 
this  particular  plant  and  information  on  the  flora 
of  central  China  in  general." 

So  read  my  instructions  from  Messrs.  Veitch.  A 
three  years'  agreement  was  signed  on  March  27, 
1899,  and  on  April  llth  I  sailed  from  Liverpool  on 
the  Cunard  ship  Pavonia  en  route  for  China  via 

275 


276  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

the  United  States  of  America.  Twelve  days  after- 
ward I  landed  in  Boston,  Mass.,  and  on  the  after- 
noon of  the  same  day  made  my  first  acquaintance 
with  the  Arnold  Arboretum.  My  stay  in  Boston  was 
limited  to  five  days  and  nearly  the  whole  time  was 
devoted  to  looking  over  the  Arnold  Arboretum  collec- 
tions and  I  departed  enriched  in  knowledge  and  with 
much  sound  advice  on  matters  relating  to  the  col- 
lecting and  packing  of  seeds  and  plants  from  Pro- 
fessor Sargent  and  from  the  late  Mr.  Jackson  Daw- 
son. 

My  trip  across  the  continent  was  delightful;  every- 
thing was  new,  strange,  and  interesting,  and  the 
hours  of  daylight  were  not  long  enough  to  drink  my 
fill  from  the  Pullman  windows.  When  crossing  Texas 
a  talkative  brakesman  told  me  hair-raising  stories  of 
the  exploits  of  the  notorious  James  brothers  and  so 
impressive  was  his  language  that  a  thrill  goes  through 
me  now  as  I  recall  it.  On  May  6th  I  sailed  from  San 
Francisco  and  on  June  3d  safely  reached  Hongkong 
where  I  had  letters  to  friends. 

The  holiday  part  of  my  journey  was  now  over. 
My  immediate  destination  was  the  Chinese  city  of 
Szemao,  situated  in  the  southwest  corner  of  Yunnan 
near  the  frontier  of  northern  Burmah  and  my  route 
lay  through  French  Tonking  to  the  Chinese  border 


THE   STORY   OF  THE   DAVIDIA  277 

and  then  across  the  large  province  of  Yunnan.  Hong- 
kong was  suffering  from  its  usual  visitation  of  bubonic 
plague  and  no  Chinese  from  that  colony  was  allowed 
to  enter  Tonking  so  I  was  denied  the  services  of  an 
English-speaking  Chinese  servant  which  was  a  great 
loss.  Thanks  to  the  help  of  my  friends,  whose  ef- 
forts to  assist  in  every  possible  way  were  unbounded, 
my  arrangements — which  included  a  passport  (neces- 
sitating a  trip  to  Canton),  a  supply  of  provisions,  and 
a  traveling  outfit — were  completed  with  celerity.  I 
left  Hongkong  in  a  steamer  on  the  afternoon  of 
June  14th  for  the  port  of  Haiphong  where  I  arrived 
on  the  19th  idem,  and,  leaving  the  same  evening, 
reached  Hanoi,  the  capital  of  Tonking  the  following 
morning.  I  could  speak  no  French  and  in  conse- 
quence had  difficulty  on  landing,  but  ultimately  I 
reached  a  hotel  and  stumbled  on  a  Frenchman  who 
spoke  a  little  English. 

For  some  years  past,  a  railway,  built  by  the 
French,  has  connected  Hanoi  with  Yunnan  Fu  the 
capital  of  the  province  of  that  name,  but  in  1899 
the  survey  only  was  in  progress  and  travelers 
had  to  ascend  the  Red  River  in  small  steamers  to 
the  frontier  town  of  Laokai,  thence  by  native 
boats  to  Manhao  and  from  there  journey  overland 
by  mules  or  sedan  chairs.  The  Chinese  were  strongly 


278  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

opposed  to  the  idea  of  a  railway  in  Yunnan  and  ugly 
rumors  of  impending  trouble  were  abroad. 

At  Hanoi  I  had  to  wait  four  days  for  a  steamer  and 
leaving  at  ten  A.  M.  on  June  24th  I  found  on  board  a 
young  Frenchman  newly  appointed  to  the  Chinese 
Imperial  Maritime  Customs  and  bound  for  Mengtsze 
to  take  up  his  post.  This  gentleman  spoke  English 
and  we  made  an  arrangement  to  travel  in  company. 
At  Yenbay,  which  was  reached  on  the  evening  of  the 
25th  idem,  we  had  to  transfer  to  a  smaller  steamer 
of  lesser  draught  and  here  a  report  reached  us  that 
an  attack  on  foreigners  had  occurred  at  Menstsze 
and  that  the  Custom  House  and  French  Consulate 
had  been  destroyed  by  fire.  My  newly-found  com- 
panion became  very  pessimistic  and  vowed  that  we 
should  never  reach  our  destination. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  29th  idem  Laokai  was 
reached  and  the  news  of  the  Mengtsze  outrage  con- 
firmed in  detail.  Across  a  small  tributary  stream 
from  Laokai  is  the  Chinese  town  of  Hokou  where  a 
station  of  the  Chinese  Imperial  Maritime  Customs 
is  maintained.  The  officer  in  charge  gave  us  what 
information  he  had  and  read  a  telegram  from  the 
Commissioner  of  Customs  at  Mengtsze  warning  in- 
tending travelers  that  the  road  was  unsafe. 

At  Laokai  a  small  hotel,  styled  "Hotel  du  Com- 


THE   STORY   OF  THE   DAVIDIA  279 

merce,"  was  nearly  finished  building  and  I  had  the 
honor  of  being  its  first  guest.  The  proprietor, 
Monsieur  Fleury,  was  French  but  his  wife  was  of 
English  birth,  and  if  ever  these  lines  should  reach 
them,  may  they  assure  them  that  even  in  these  after 
years  I  am  not  unmindful  of  the  courtesy  and  kind- 
ness which  did  so  much  toward  making  life  tolerable 
during  my  enforced  stay. 

On  the  29th  idem  I  received  a  note  from  the  French 
officer  commanding  the  district  warning  me  against 
proceeding  on  my  journey  and  in  the  afternoon 
news  arrived  of  the  murder  of  four  men  who  had  left 
a  few  days  before  for  Mengtsze.  The  outlook  was 
decidedly  unpromising  but  I  did  not  then  realize  how 
many  dreary  days  of  waiting  were  ahead  of  me. 

What  Laokai  is  like  to-day  I  do  not  know  but  in 
those  days  it  was  a  very  small  village.  It  is  situated 
on  the  left  bank  of  the  Red  River  and  separated  from 
Chinese  territory  by  a  small  tributary  stream  and  is 
backed  by  low  jungle  and  tree-clad  hills  with  swamps 
near  by.  Across  the  Red  River  on  the  right  bank 
was  a  large  military  encampment  including  barracks 
where  were  quartered  a  battalion  of  the  Foreign 
Legion  and  several  regiments  of  Annamese  troops 
officered  of  course  by  Frenchmen.  Laokai  is  within 
the  tropics  and  although  some  hundreds  of  miles 


280  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

from  the  sea  is  only  a  few  feet  above  sea-level  and 
being  shut  in  by  jungle-clad  mountains  the  climate 
is  very  unhealthy.  During  my  sojourn  there  bugles 
announced  nearly  every  morning  and  evening  that 
one  or  several  soldiers  were  being  laid  in  their  last 
resting-place.  The  tiny  steamer  which  left  for  down- 
stream every  Sunday  morning  was  always  laden  with 
sick  or  convalescing  soldiers  and  officers.  The  heat 
during  the  greater  part  of  the  day  was  intense  and  I 
could  go  walking  for  a  few  hours  only  after  sunrise 
and  for  an  hour  or  so  in  the  evening.  It  was  the  rainy 
season  and  nearly  every  day  rain  fell  in  tropical  fury. 
My  diary  shows  that  at  first  although  disappointed 
I  settled  down  to  make  the  best  of  things  and  amused 
myself  investigating  the  flora  of  the  immediate 
neighborhood  of  Laokai.  As  my  stay  lengthened 
into  weeks  my  hopes  of  continuing  my  journey  sank 
lower  and  lower  and  I  went  so  far  as  to  write  to  both 
Dr.  Henry  and  my  employers  advising  them  that 
I  should  have  to  abandon  the  effort  when,  quite  un- 
expectedly, I  managed  to  move  onward.  Reviewing 
the  affair  after  a  lapse  of  seventeen  years  I  rather  mar- 
vel that  I  did  not  abandon  the  venture.  Certain  it 
is  that  my  enforced  sojourn  and  inactivity  at  Laokai 
were  the  most  discouraging,  the  most  trying,  and  the 
most  unpleasant  to  endure  of  any  experiences  during 


THE   STORY   OF   THE   D AVIDIA  281 

my  eleven  years'  travel  in  China.  The  military 
authorities  were  suspicious  of  me  from  the  commence- 
ment, and  toward  the  end  it  reached  my  ears  that  I 
was  regarded  as  a  spy  and  a  captain  in  the  English 
army,  disguised.  As  a  broad  hint  to  quit  I  received  an 
enlistment  notice !  Those  were  the  days  of  the  "  Drey- 
fus retrial"  and  of  the  "Fashoda  incident"  and  before 
the  "Entente  cordiale" — days  when  a  native  of  "per- 
fidious Albion"  was  the  opposite  of  a  welcome  guest  in 
a  French  colony  where  military  rule  was  dominant. 

During  the  first  few  days  of  exile  further  details  of 
the  Mengtsze  outrage  reached  Laokai  and  of  course 
rumor  enlarged  upon  the  whole  situation.  A  party 
of  Frenchmen  surveying  for  the  railway  came  in  from 
Yunnan,  talked  of  serious  trouble,  and  departed  for 
down  river.  On  the  19th  of  July  the  Commandante 
sent  a  note  informing  me  that  the  route  to  Mengtsze 
was  then  considered  safe  and  this  cheered  me  greatly. 
I  began  enquiries  for  a  servant  since  it  was  impossible 
to  travel  alone,  but  the  news  of  the  riot  had  done  its 
work  and  no  one  could  be  tempted.  This  state  of 
affairs  lasted  for  a  month.  On  the  18th  of  August  the 
following  letter  was  brought  to  me: 

"Mv  DEAR  SIR, 

Before  I  have  wish  to  do  a  interpreter  with  you, 
because  I  am  very  sick  cannot  to  going,  at  now  I 


282  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

have  a  friend  he  have  learned  him  English  for  two 
years  at  Hongkong,  if  you  wish  to  get  a  interpreter 
he  can  do. 

"Your  small  servant 

"LlMAY." 


Who  Limay  was  I  had  not  the  slightest  idea  but 
was  grateful  to  him  nevertheless.  The  bearer  of  the 
note  was  himself  the  applicant.  He  was  a  Chinese  of 
very  unprepossessing  appearance  who  smoked  opium 
freely  and  had  been  discharged  from  the  Telegraph 
service  for  incompetency,  but  he  spoke  a  little  Eng- 
lish. I  engaged  him  on  the  spot,  for  a  chance  to 
reach  Dr.  Henry  presented  itself.  Not  being 
anxious  to  do  more  work  than  he  could  help  my  "in- 
terpreter" rounded  up  an  Annamese  who  could  cook 
and  I  engaged  him,  too.  On  August  23d  we  left  in  a 
native  boat  for  Manhao.  The  river  was  in  flood. 
The  journey  up  the  Red  River  due  to  its  flooded  con- 
dition was  slow  and  not  without  excitement.  Three 
days  out  I  was  overtaken  by  Monsieur  Marty  who 
owned  the  line  of  river  steamers  between  Hanoi  and 
Laokai  and  another  line  plying  to  Hongkong  where 
he  resided.  Monsieur  Marty  was  anxious  for  com- 
pany and  induced  me  to  travel  in  his  boat.  To 
other  accomplishments  he  added  those  of  a  good  cook 
and  I  was  really  most  fortunate  in  joining  him  more 


THE    STORY   OF   THE    DAVIDIA  283 

especially  as  my  own  boat  in  crossing  a  dangerous 
rapid  had  lost  masts  and  sail  and  was  so  nearly  swamped 
that  I  had  to  transfer  everything  to  my  companion's 
boat.  On  September  1st  we  arrived  at  Manhao  and 
three  days  later  with  no  untoward  event  reached 
Mengtsze. 

The  Custom  House  and  the  French  Consulate 
which  adjoined  were  situated  nearly  half  a  mile  from 
the  city  of  Mengtsze.  The  attack  had  taken  place  after 
midnight;  the  Consulate  was  little  damaged  but  the 
house  of  the  Commissioner  of  Customs  was  completely 
gutted  by  fire  and  its  contents  entirely  destroyed. 
The  Commissioner,  an  American,  Mr.  W.  F.  Spin- 
ney, with  his  wife  and  members  of  his  staff,  escaped 
in  their  night  clothes  and  though  pursued  by  a  howl- 
ing mob  fortunately  found,  after  some  difficulty, 
safe  lodgment  within  the  city.  One  or  two  servants 
were  burnt  to  death.  The  officials  made  some  effort 
to  capture  and  punish  the  ringleaders  and  on  my 
arrival  at  the  entrance  to  the  ruined  Custom  House, 
I  saw  suspended  from  the  branches  of  a  tree,  wooden 
cages  containing  the  heads  of  five  of  the  rioters. 
Later  I  met  a  posse  of  soldiers  bringing  in  another 
gruesome  looking  head. 

His  own  troubles  and  difficulties  notwithstanding, 
Mr.  Spinney  lent  me  ready  assistance  and  engaged 


284  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE    GARDEN 

mules  to  take  me  to  Szemao,  seventeen  days'  journey 
distant.  My  caravan  of  fifteen  or  sixteen  mules  and 
several  muleteers  was  imposing  and  included  not 
only  my  own  belongings,  but  several  cases  of  silver 
for  Chinese  officials  at  Szemao  and  a  number  of  cases 
of  stores  for  the  Customs  staff.  I  left  on  the  morning 
of  September  8th,  and,  being  unable  to  speak  any 
Chinese,  traveled  very  much  as  a  parcel  and  enjoyed 
the  trip.  I  received  en  route  a  couple  of  letters 
of  welcome  from  Dr.  Henry  and,  when  two  days 
from  my  destination,  a  note  from  him  informing  me 
that  a  gang  of  highway  robbers  had  been  plying  their 
nefarious  calling  between  the  cities  of  Puerh  and  Sze- 
mao but  that  the  ringleaders  had  been  captured  and 
executed.  The  officials  at  Puerh  sent  ten  soldiers 
as  a  guard  and  a  few  miles  beyond  that  city  ten  sol- 
diers sent  from  Szemao  joined  us,  and  with  these 
twenty  picturesquely  clad  but  grotesquely  armed 
soldiers  our  caravan  looked  like  a  small  punitive 
expedition. 

My  last  night  before  reaching  Szemao  was  on  a 
Saturday  and  about  nine  o'clock,  after  all  had  retired, 
a  barking  of  dogs  and  some  shouting  aroused  excite- 
ment and  my  soldier  guard  began  to  prepare  for  an 
attack  when  the  sound  of  an  English  voice  sent  a  thrill 
of  joy  through  me.  The  door  was  quickly  thrown 


THE    STORY   OF   THE   DAVIDIA  285 

open  and  I  rushed  to  greet  two  men,  Messrs.  Carey 
and  Williams,  who  with  rare  forethought  of  my  lone- 
liness had  ridden  from  Szemao  to  bid  me  welcome. 

The  next  day  we  rode  quietly  into  Szemao  and  I 
took  up  quarters  in  a  house  engaged  for  me  next 
door  to  the  Custom  House.  Dr.  Henry  was  away 
botanizing  when  I  arrived  but  returned  early  in  the 
evening  and  our  meeting  was  hearty  and  cordial. 
During  the  next  few  days  this  gentleman  laid  bare 
for  my  benefit  his  vast  store  of  knowledge  of  the  flora 
of  China  and  from  his  notebooks  furnished  me  with 
exact  information  as  to  the  locality  of  the  Davidia  in 
particular  and  many  other  plants  in  general. 

My  stay  at  Szemao  was  profitable  and  as  pleasant 
as  hospitable  friends  could  possibly  make  it,  but  was 
cut  short  by  Dr.  Henry  receiving  orders  to  repair 
to  Mengtsze  and  relieve  Mr.  Spinney.  I  returned 
with  him  and  leaving  Szemao  on  October  16th  safely 
reached  Mengtsze  on  the  evening  of  November  2d. 
The  country  was  in  a  very  disturbed  state  and  oppo- 
sition to  the  French  railway  most  marked.  Being  in 
blissful  ignorance,  all  murmurings  and  grumblings  left 
me  unaffected,  but  my  companion — fully  conversant 
with  the  language — endured  some  anxiety. 

I  left  Mengtsze  on  November  13th  well  primed 
with  valuable  information  from  Dr.  Henry  and 


286  ARISTOCRATS   OF  THE   GARDEN 

some  useful  practical  knowledge  derived  from  my 
own  experiences.  Laokai  was  reached  about  mid- 
night on  the  16th  idem,  and  after  a  few  days'  stay  I 
departed  for  Hongkong  where  I  arrived  on  the  after- 
noon of  November  26th. 

During  my  journeys  in  Yunnan  I  collected  a  num- 
ber of  interesting  plants  and  among  them  Jasminum 
primulinum,  which  has  achieved  widespread  popular- 
ity in  Europe  and  in  this  country.  From  Hongkong 
I  despatched  my  collections  to  England  and  in  due 
time  left  for  Ichang  situated  on  the  Yangtsze  River 
in  the  very  heart  of  China. 

Ichang,  where  I  arrived  on  February  24,  1900,  was 
to  be  my  headquarters  for  two  years  so  I  made  plans 
accordingly,  I  purchased  a  native  boat  of  good  size 
in  which  to  live  and  to  serve  as  a  base  of  supplies, 
and  engaged  some  countrymen  to  assist  me  in  col- 
lecting. The  all-important  arrangements  completed, 
a  series  of  short  prospecting  trips  up  country  from 
Ichang  were  undertaken  for  the  purpose  of  getting 
some  acquaintance  with  the  flora  and  for  testing  and 
training  my  men.  By  the  middle  of  April  everything 
was  ready  to  start  in  quest  of  the  Davidia.  On  a  half 
page  of  a  notebook  Dn  Henry  had  sketched  a 
tract  of  country  about  the  size  of  New  York  State 
and  had  marked  the  spot  where  he  had  found  growing 


THE    STORY    OF   THE    DAVIDIA  287 

a  single  tree  of  the  Davidia,  the  only  example  he  had 
discovered  in  a  trip  which  extended  over  six  months  and 
the  only  one  he  had  ever  seen.  The  place  was  among 
high  mountains  in  the  sparsely  populated  region 
bordering  the  provinces  of  Hupeh  and  Szechuan  and 
south  of  the  mighty  Yangtsze  River.  This  locality 
was  my  destination  and  this  solitary  tree  my  sole  ob- 
jective. 

On  the  morning  of  April  15th  I  left  Ichang,  in 
my  boat,  to  ascend  the  Yangtsze  as  far  as  the 
district  city  of  Patung  where  I  arrived  on  the 
21st  idem.  The  journey  was  exciting,  for  the  rapids 
which  are  very  numerous  were  at  that  season  difficult 
to  negotiate.  Twice  we  ran  on  rocks  and  had  to 
repair  damage.  At  the  worst  rapid  the  boat  all  but 
capsized  and  there  were  other  and  numerous  inci- 
dents which  space  will  not  allow  me  to  mention 
in  detail.  At  Patung  the  head  official  did  his  best 
to  frighten  my  men  and  begged  me  to  abandon  the 
enterprise.  Finally,  his  efforts  proving  of  no  effect, 
he  promised  an  escort  of  six  soldiers  and  washed 
his  hands,  as  it  were,  of  the  business.  The  man  was 
in  earnest  and  genuinely  afraid  for  my  safety.  Some 
two  years  before  there  had  been  much  trouble  in  this 

-*v 

region.  Rioting  between  anti-Christian  and  Chris- 
tian villagers  had  taken  place;  hundreds  of  lives  had 


288  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE    GARDEN 

been  lost  and  whole  villages  burnt  to  the  ground,  and 
a  Roman  Catholic  priest — Pere  Victorin — brutally 
murdered  and  his  corpse  barbarously  mutilated.  A 
feeling  of  bitterness  and  hate  still  rankled  and  there 
was  grave  danger  of  some  untoward  incident  causing 
the  smouldering  anger  to  blaze  out  afresh.  Of  all 
this  I  was  fully  aware,  but  my  mission  was  to  obtain 
Davidia  involucrata  and  in  furtherance  of  this  I  did 
not  think  of  causing  trouble  of  any  kind. 

Having  arranged  for  my  boat  to  journey  some 
fifty  miles  up-stream  to  Paishih  I  left  Patung  on  the 
morning  of  April  22d,  and  followed  a  paved  steep 
road.  On  the  evening  of  the  23d  idem.  I  reached  the 
Roman  Catholic  Mission  station  at  Hsi-sha-ho  and 
found  I  was  the  first  foreigner,  save  Roman  Catholic 
priests,  to  visit  the  place  since  Dr.  Henry.  I  found 
here  a  Belgian  priest  on  a  visit  to  his  converts.  He 
— courteous  and  scholarly,  like  all  his  class — made 
me  welcome.  He  had  been  the  companion  of  the 
priest  murdered  two  years  before  and  he  gave  me  a 
full  account  of  the  whole  tragedy.  In  his  Bible  he 
carried  a  set  of  photographs  of  the  late  Pere's  re- 
mains— gruesome,  nauseating,  and  horrible  to  look 
upon.  The  affair  had  taken  place  some  fifteen  miles 
from  Hsi-sha-ho  and  my  host  said  he  expected  trouble 
again  this  year,  as,  two  weeks  before,  a  party  of 


THE    STORY   OF   THE   DAVIDIA  289 

outlaws  had  tried  to  burn  down  his  house  but,  luckily, 
had  failed. 

Leaving  the  priest  to  his  work,  his  gloomy  fore- 
bodings on  the  future,  and  the  tragic  memories  of  his 
lamented  companion,  I  took  a  cross-country  road  and 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  25th  reached  the  hamlet  of 
Ma-huang-po  and  the  house  where  Dr.  Henry 
had  stayed  when  he  found  the  Davidia  tree  on  May 
17,  1888.  Did  the  people  remember  Dr.  Henry? 
Did  they  know  the  K'ung-tung  (local  name  of  Da- 
vidia)? To  these  and  similar  questions  they  pleas- 
antly answered  in  the  affirmative.  Would  some  one 
guide  me  to  the  tree?  Certainly!  We  sallied  forth, 
I  in  the  highest  of  spirits.  After  walking  about  two 
miles  we  came  to  a  house  rather  new  in  appearance. 
Near  by  was  the  stump  of  Henry's  Davidia.  The 
tree  had  been  cut  down  a  year  before  and  the  trunk 
and  branches  formed  the  beams  and  posts  of  the 
house!  I  did  not  sleep  during  the  night  of  April 
25,  1900. 

On  the  first  of  May  I  was  back  at  Ichang  with  my 
mind  made  up  to  collect  all  the  plants  I  could  in  west- 
ern Hupeh  during  the  year,  and  in  the  late  winter 
journey  westward  a  thousand  miles,  and  there  hunt 
for  the  Davidia  in  the  region  where  it  was  first  dis- 
covered by  Pere  David  in  1869.  With  this  resolution 


290  ARISTOCRATS   OF   THE    GARDEN 

made  I  let  the  subject  drift  from  my  mind.  On 
May  19th  when  collecting  near  the  hamlet  of  Ta-wan, 
distant  some  five  days  southwest  of  Ichang,  I  sud- 
denly happened  upon  a  Davidia  tree  in  full  flower! 
It  was  about  fifty  feet  tall,  in  outline  pyra- 
midal, and  with  its  wealth  of  blossoms  was  more 
beautiful  than  words  can  portray.  When  figuring 
Henry's  fruiting  specimens  in  Hooker's  "Icones  Plan- 
tarum"  (XX.  t.  1961,  [1891])  the  Keeper  of  the  Kew 
Herbarium  wrote:  "Davidia  is  a  tree  almost  deserving 
a  special  mission  to  western  China  with  a  view  to  its 
introduction  to  European  gardens."  On  beholding 
this  extraordinary  tree  for  the  first  time  I  no  longer 
marvelled  at  the  Keeper's  strong  language.  And 
now  with  a  wider  knowledge  of  floral  treasures  of  the 
Northern  Hemisphere  I  am  convinced  that  Davidia 
involucrata  is  the  most  interesting  and  most  beautiful 
of  all  trees  which  grow  in  the  north  temperate  re- 
gions. The  distinctive  beauty  of  the  Davidia  is  in 
the  two  snow-white  connate  bracts  which  subtend 
the  flower  proper.  These  are  always  unequal  in 
size — the  larger  usually  six  inches  long  by  three  inches 
broad,  and  the  smaller  three  and  one  half  inches  by 
two  and  one  half  inches;  they  range  up  to  eight  inches 
by  four  inches  and  five  inches  by  three  inches.  At 
first  greenish,  they  become  pure  white  as  the  flowers 


THE   STORY   OF   THE   D AVIDIA  291 

mature  and  change  to  brown  with  age.  The  flowers 
and  their  attendant  bracts  are  pendulous  on  fairly 
long  stalks,  and  when  stirred  by  the  slightest  breeze 
they  resemble  huge  butterflies  or  small  doves  hover- 
ing amongst  the  trees.  The  bracts  are  somewhat 
boat-shaped  and  flimsy  in  texture,  and  the  leaves  hide 
them  considerably,  but  so  freely  are  they  borne  that 
the  tree,  from  a  distance,  looks  as  if  flecked  with 
snow.  The  bracts  are  most  conspicuous  on  dull  days 
and  in  the  early  morning. 

Later,  I  found  two  other  trees  in  the  same  neigh- 
borhood and,  in  localities  varying  from  fifty  to  one 
hundred  miles  apart,  eight  others.  These  eleven 
trees  were  carefully  watched  through  this  anxious 
year  of  the  Boxer  trouble;  they  fruited  freely,  and  in 
November  I  garnered  a  rich  harvest  of  seeds  which 
were  despatched  to  England  where  they  safely  ar- 
rived in  due  course.  In  1901,  when  on  an  expedition 
through  the  northwest  of  Hupeh,  I  discovered  the 
Davidia  in  quantity  and  more  than  a  hundred  trees 
became  known  to  me.  From  these  hundred  trees  I 
did  not  secure  a  hundred  seeds,  and  during  subse- 
quent visits  to  China  extending  over  a  decade  I  never 
again  saw  Davidia  fruiting  in  the  manner  it  did  in 
1900.  The  fruit  may  be  likened  to  that  of  a  walnut, 
but  is  more  or  less  ellipsoid,  or,  more  rarely,  roundish 


292  ARISTOCRATS    OF  THE   GARDEN 

in  shape  and  about  one  and  one  fourth  to  one  and 
three  fourths  inches  long.  The  color  is  greenish 
russet  and  slightly  reddish  on  one  side  and  the  flesh 
is  very  thin  and  gritty.  The  "nut"  consists  of  a 
number  of  seeds  arranged  around  an  axis  and  em- 
bedded in  woody  tissue  as  hard  as  flint  and  absolutely 
unbreakable. 

On  their  arrival  in  England  in  the  early  spring  of 
1901  the  "nuts"  were  sown  in  various  ways — some  in 
strong  heat,  some  in  boxes  and  pots  and  placed  in 
various  temperatures,  others  (and  the  larger  quantity) 
out  of  doors  in  a  prepared  seed-bed.  Some  were 
soaked  in  hot  water,  some  in  cold,  others  were  filed 
down — in  short,  everything  that  a  skilled  and  re- 
sourceful propagator  could  think  of  was  put  in  opera- 
tion. Weeks  passed,  months  passed,  and  nothing 
happened.  When  I  reached  England  at  the  end  of 
April,  1902,  not  one  seed  had  germinated  and  grave 
fears  were  expressed — failure  almost  anticipated. 
I  made  it  my  first  business  to  examine  the  seeds. 
Those  indoors  under  various  conditions,  save  for 
being  blackened,  exhibited  no  apparent  change  and 
no  signs  of  germination.  Those  in  the  seed-bed  out 
of  doors  had  been  subjected  to  the  winter's  frost,  and 
on  digging  out,  a  few  signs  of  change  were  apparent. 
Some  of  the  "nuts"  exhibited  slight  longitudinal 


THE    STORY    OF   THE    DAVIDIA  293 

cracks  from  the  summit  to  about  two  thirds  down; 
in  others  a  narrow  valve-like  shutter  was  forced  back 
slightly  and  the  tip  of  a  root  showed  clearly.  All 
was  well.  In  a  month  or  so  thousands  had  sprouted, 
and  from  this  bed  an  assistant  and  I  potted  up 
more  than  thirteen  thousand  plants,  of  which  nearly 
every  one  grew.  Of  the  seeds  sown  indoors  scarcely  a 
single  one  ever  germinated. 

I  brought  home  with  me,  in  1902,  three  or  four  living 
plants  and  these  were  planted  in  various  positions 
in  the  Coombe  Wood  nursery  and  in  the  summer  grew 
amazingly.  So,  too,  did  the  seedlings,  and  Davidia 
immediately  made  itself  at  home  in  England.  The 
first  to  flower  in  England  was  a  seedling  plant  in  the 
Coombe  Wood  nursery  in  May,  1911,  and  a  cut 
branch  was  exhibited  by  Messrs.  Veitch  at  the  famous 
Temple  Show  on  May  23d,  and  received  a  First 
Class  Certificate — the  Royal  Horticultural  Society's 
highest  award.  Since  that  date  many  have  flowered 
in  various  places  and  fruit  was  produced  in  1915. 
In  Kew  Gardens  there  are  now  trees  nineteen  feet 
tall  and  thirteen  inches  in  girth  of  stem. 

This  Hupeh  plant  proved  to  be  a  smooth-leaved 
variety  of  the  type  and  in  the  autumn  of  1903, 1  had 
the  pleasure  of  securing  in  Mupin,  Pere  David's  orig- 
inal locality,  a  few  hundreds  of  fruits  of  the  type 


294  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE   GARDEN 

and  from  these  more  than  a  thousand  plants  were 
raised. 

After  my  successful  introduction  of  the  Davidia  in 
1901,  and  its  free  germination  in  1902,  I  had  yet  one 
little  cup  of  bitterness  to  drain.  Monsieur  Maurice 
de  Vilmorin  had  received  seeds  of  the  Davidia  from  a 
Roman  Catholic  Missionary,  Pere  Farges,  in  1897, 
and  in  1898  one  plant  was  raised  in  his  arboretum  at 
Les  Barres,  France.  From  this  plant  two  or  three 
cuttings  and  one  layer  were  rooted.  A  rooted  cutting 
was  sent  to  Kew  Gardens,  another  to  the  Jardin 
des  Plantes  in  Paris,  and  the  rooted  layer  to  the  Ar- 
nold Arboretum,  where  it  is  now  growing  freely.  My 
employers  were  aware  of  this  soon  after  I  had  been 
despatched  to  China  in  1899,  but  I  was  not,  and  I 
took  my  draught  when  the  whole  story  was  published 
by  Monsieur  Andre  in  the  Revue  Horticole,  August 
16,  1902,  p.  377.  Monsieur  Vilmorin's  plant  flow- 
ered for  the  first  time  in  May,  1906,  and  proved  to  be 
the  smooth-leaved  variety  and  received  the  name  of 
Davidia  involucrata,  var.  Vilmoriniana,  after  an  abor- 
tive attempt  on  the  part  of  a  French  botanist  (Mon- 
sieur L.  A.  Dode)  to  make  it  a  distinct  species. 

In  the  late  summer  of  1906  I  had  the  mortifica- 
tion of  learning  that  several  thousands  of  vigorous 
Davidia  plants  raised  from  my  1901  seeds  had  been 


JHE   STORY   OF  THE   DAVIDIA  295 

ruthlessly  burnt  for  no  reason  other  than  to  gratify 
a  whim  of  an  unbalanced  mind.  Fortunately  a 
goodly  number  were  saved  through  timely  action 
and  a  larger  number  had  previously  been  sold  and 
distributed.  These  trees  in  increasing  numbers  are 
now  flowering  each  successive  season.  After  sixteen 
years  I  have  thought  it  of  interest — and  for  history's 
sake  desirable — to  place  on  record  the  facts  concern- 
ing the  vicissitudes  and  difficulties  which  beset  my 
path  in  the  introduction  of  every  seedling  plant  but  one 
of  this  remarkable  tree. 


EPILOGUE 

MORE  years  of  my  life  than  I  care  to  remem- 
ber have  been  spent  in  searching  the  re- 
mote parts  of  eastern  Asia  for  new  plants 
of  value  for  the  embellishment  of  western  gardens.  The 
work  has  not  been  devoid  of  hardship  and  its  spice  of 
danger;  but  if  the  art  of  gardening  and  the  science  of 
horticulture  benefit  thereby,  the  years  have  been  well 
spent. 

On  my  return  in  the  early  spring  of  1915,  from  a 
year's  work  in  the  empire  of  Japan,  I  was  curious 
to  discover,  if  possible,  how  much  genuine  interest 
existed  in  this  country  in  the  matter  of  gardens  and 
how  widespread  the  interest  might  be.  After  much 
thought  I  concluded  that  a  measurable  test  might  be 
made  by  publishing  a  series  of  articles,  general  yet  com- 
prehensive in  character.  The  kindergarten  element 
had  no  place  in  my  scheme  any  more  than  that  exalted 
in  the  ranks.  The  question  could  be  properly  an- 
swered  only  by  the  class  that  had  some  knowledge  of 
the  art,  and  in  whom  interest  and  love  were  already 
aroused.  With  this  object  in  mind,  but  not  divulged, 
I  approached  the  Editor  of  the  Garden  Magazine. 

296 


EPILOGUE  297 

This  gentleman  encouraged  me  most  cordially  and 
his  liberality  in  the  matter  of  space,  his  cooperation, 
and  the  courteous  manner  in  which  he  met  every  sug- 
gestion made  the  task  an  enjoyable  one. 

My  question  has  been  answered  in  a  manner  that 
cannot  be  mistaken.  Letters  have  reached  me  from 
East  and  West,  North  and  South,  and  from  all  the 
states  which  link  these  compass  points.  That  there 
is  in  this  country  a  universal  awakening  in  the  inter- 
est of  outdoor  gardening  and  to  the  recognition  of  the 
fact  that  a  garden  transforms  a  dwelling  into  a  home, 
is  proved  to  the  hilt.  The  art  of  gardening  and  the 
love  of  hardy  flowers  have  come  to  stay. 

Now,  in  gardening  and  in  the  full  and  proper  devel- 
opment of  its  spirit,  there  are  four  elemental  forces: 
the  Amateur,  the  Gardener,  the  Trade,  the  Press. 
Their  respective  spheres  of  usefulness  are  self-evident. 
They  are  co-equal  and  interdependent  and  each,  by 
itself,  can  accomplish  nothing.  Neither  can  any 
dual  or  triple  combination  of  these  forces  attain  any- 
thing of  real  and  lasting  value.  The  quadruple  alli- 
ance is  absolutely  essential  to  the  art  and  love  of 
gardening.  No  one  of  these  forces  is  the  master  key, 
for  that  is  held  by  the  Spirit  of  man  which — no  mat- 
ter how  glossed  over  by  the  struggle  for  existence,  by 
the  sordid  cares  of  every-day  life,  by  ambitious  desire 


298  ARISTOCRATS    OF   THE    GARDEN 

for  wealth,  power,  or  ephemeral  pleasures — ever  craves 
for  something  outside  itself,  for  those  innocent  joys 
and  objects  of  beauty  which  bounteous  Nature  has 
furnished  in  forest  and  woodland,  in  meadow  and 
swamp,  in  valley  and  on  hill-top.  And  the  more 
cultured  a  race  or  nation  becomes,  the  more  incessant 
grows  the  spirit. 

The  present-day  energy  of  each  of  these  four  ele- 
mental forces  could  be  subjected  to  criticism,  for 

wholesome  criticism  is  healthful;  yet  rather  would 

I, 

I  urge  each  to  consider  its  function  and  resolve  ac- 
cordingly. 

Arboreta,  Botanic  Gardens  and  all  plant  experi- 
mental institutions  have  a  value  not  yet  properly  under- 

•\ 

stood,  for  their  collections  and  experiments  demonstrate 
the  wealth  of  material  available  and  its  adaptability 
to  garden  needs. 

Horticultural  exhibitions  are  a  potent  agency  in 
furthering  the  knowledge  and  love  of  plants,  but  if 
the  exhibits  were  more  generally  and  more  legibly  lab- 
eled the  educational  value  of  such  exhibitions  would 
be  enormously  enhanced. 

Societies  founded  for  the  advancement  of  horti- 

i 

culture  generally  and  for  that  of  particular  flowers 
are  a  natural  and  inevitable  outcome  of  the  desire  for 
gardens  and  for  mutual  help  and  intercourse.  Garden 


EPILOGUE  299 

clubs,  so  rapidly  being  formed  and  so  enthusiastically 
developed,  is  another  most  welcome  sign  of  the 
awakening  that  is  in  progress.  And  so,  in  laying 
down  his  pen,  a  missionary  of  horticulture  can  ex- 
press himself  as  satisfied  that  the  people  of  this 
country  are  beginning  to  appreciate  the  truths  ad- 
mirably enunciated  by  Lord  Bacon,  when  he  says  of 
gardens: 

"God  Almighty  first  planted  a  garden,  and,  indeed, 
it  is  the  purest  of  human  pleasures.  It  is  the  greatest 
refreshment  to  the  spirits  of  man,  without  which 
buildings  or  palaces  are  but  gross  handiworks.  And 
a  man  should  ever  see  that  when  ages  grow  to  civility 
and  elegancy  men  come  to  build  stately  sooner  than 
to  garden  finely,  as  if  gardening  were  the  greater  per- 
fection." 

E.  H.  WILSON. 

Arnold  Arboretum. 


THE   END 


INDEX 


Abies  brachyphylla,  116 

Abies  cephalonica,  117 

Abies  cihcica,  117 

Abies  concolor,  116,  118 

Abies  homolepis,  116 

Abies  Nordmanniana,  117 

Abies  Veitchii,  117 

Abelia  grandiflpra,  53 

Acacia,  hardy  in  California,  37 

Acanthopanax     (Kalopanax    ricinifolium),    for 

summer  display,  41,  43 
Acanthopanax  Henryi,  94 
Acanthopanax  sessikflorum,  94 
Acanthopanax  spinosum,  94 
Acer  rubrum;  176 
Acer  saccharinum,  176 
Aconite,  Winter,  174 
.Aconitum  Hemsleyanum,  238 
Aconitum  Wilsonii,  237,  238 
Actinidia,  56 
Actinidia  arguta,  63 
Actinidia  chmensis,  63 
Actinidia  kalomikta,  63 
Actinidia  polygama,  63 
Adam's  Needle  (Yucca),  49 
Aesculus  parviflora,  for  summer  display,  46 
Ailanthus  glandulosa,  172 
Ailanthus  Vilmoriniana,  172 
Aitchison's  Rose,  Mrs.  (Rosa  Ecae),  one  of  six 

known  yellow  species,  15 
Akebia  lobata,  64 
Akebia  quinata,  64 
Alder  (Alnus),  105,  176 
Alkaline  soils,  neutralization  of,  153 
"Almagestum",  Plukenet's,  4 
American  Beauty  Rose,  wild  prototype  of,  II 
Amorpha  canescens,  53 
Ampelopsis  aconitifolia,  74 
Ampelopsis  aconitifolia,  var.  palmiloba,  74 
Ampelopsis  brevipedunculata,  74 
Ampelopsis  Englemanii,  73 
Ampelopsis  heterophylla,  74  J 
Ampelopsis  humilifolia,  74 
Ampelopsis  megalophylla,  74 
Ampelopsis  micans,  74 
Ampelopsis  Veitchii,  73 
Andromeda  floribunda,  142 
Andromeda  polifolia,  142 
Anisostichus  capreolatus,  68 
Apple,  106 
Apple,  Chinese,  209 
Apricot  (P  run  us  Armeniaca),  190 
Apricot,  Japanese,  187 
Aralia  chinensis,  94 
Aralia  spinosa,  94 
Arborvitae,  or  White  Cedar,  128 
Arborvitae,  Chinese,  129 
Arborvitae,  Giant,  127 
Arbutus,  Trailing,  148 
Arctostaphylos  uva-ursi,  149 
Aristolochia  durior,  56,  74 
Aristolochia  Kaempferi,  74 
Aristolochia  monpinensis,  74 
Aristolochia  sipho,  56,  74 


Aristolochia  tomentosa,  74 

Aronia  atropurpurea,  96 

Aroma  arbutifolia,  96 

Aronia  melanocarpa,  96 

Aronia  melanocarpa,  var,  elata,  96 

Aronia  melanocarpa,  var.  grandifolia,  96 

Arrow-wood  (Viburnum  acerifolium),  95 

Artemisia  lactiflora,  234 

Arnold  Arboretum,  number  of  species  of  Rosa 
recognized  as  indigenous  to  North  America, 
10;  Southern  Hemisphere  shrubs  unsuccessful, 
36;  five  species  of  Sorbaria  in  cultivation,  47; 
species  of  Yucca  found  hardy,  49;  Elsholtzia 
Stauntonii  introduced,  51;  Hydrangia  petio- 
laris  introduced,  68;  species  of  Vitis  found  | 
hardy,  72;  evergreen  climbers,  75,  76;  Govern- 
ment investigations  on  plants  for  winter 
food  for  birds,  81;  species  of  Phillodendron, 
93;  largest  collection  of  conifers  on  continent, 
115;  species  of  conifers  found  hardy,  no; 
Pseudotsuga  taxifolia,  119;  Picea  pungens, 
119;  Picea  Engelmanni,  121;  Tsuga  caroliniana 
introduced,  123;  raises  Cedar  of  Lebanon 
from  cold  Asia  Minor  seed,  126;  broad-leaved 
Evergreens,  140;  Leucothoe  Catesbaei  hardy, 
143;  Ilex  crenata  major  not  hardy,  145; 
Buxus  microphyla  hardy,  145;  Evonymus 
radicans,  var.  acutus,  151;  new  species  of 
Cotoneaster,  158;  Hamamelis  vernalis,  178; 
Forsythias,  192;  Flowering  Cherry,  195,  197, 
198,  199,  200;  produces  Malus  Arnoldiana, 
208;  introduces  Malus  Sieboldii,  var.  calo- 
carpa,  209;  Lilacs  grown  from  wild  seed,  214; 
all  Lilacs  hardy,  215;  number  varieties  Lilac 
cultivated,  217;  best  dozen  Common  Lilacs  of 


Syringa  Sweginzowi  latest  Lilac  to  flower, 
225;  Syringa  pekinensis  introduced,  226: 
Syringa  japonica  introduced,  227;  species  of 
Rhododendrons,  251,  252;  Rhododendron 
poukhanense  introduced,  256;  list  of  best 
varieties  of  Rhododendrons,  261;  large-leaved 
evergreen  Rhododendrons  hardy,  270;  re- 
ceives rooted  layer  of  Davidia  involucrata 
from  France,  294 

Ash,  American  or  White,  106 

Ash,  Mountain,  87, 106 

Asiatic  Corktrees  (Phellodendron),  84,  93 

Astilbe  Arendsi,  236 

Astilbe  astilboides,  235 

Astilbe  Davidii,  235 

Astilbe  grandis,  235 

Astilbe  japonica,  235 

Attar  of  Roses,  species  cultivated  for,  13 

Ayrshire  Roses,  origination  of,  12 

Azalea,  the  three  sections  of,  249 

Azalea,  Clammy,  252 

Azalea  pontica,  253,  254 

Azalea,  Yellow,  251 

Azalea,  yodogawa,  256 

Azaleas,  China  introduced  into  England,  4 

Azaleas,  culture  of,  247 


301 


302 


INDEX 


Azaleas,  Ghent,  254 
Azaleas,  Mollis  hybrids,  255 
Azaleas,  planting  Lilies  among,  31 
Azaleas,  Tsutsutsi,  255 

Banks,  Sir  Joseph,  introduces  Bengal  Rose  into 
England,  1789,  5 

Banksian  Rose,  sent  from  China  by  early  plant 
collectors,  6;  prototype  of,  ip 

Barberries,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83;  new  intro- 
ductions. 165 

Bartram,  John,  discovers  Gordonia  altamaha,  45 

Bart  ram,  William,  introduces  Gordonia  altamaha 
into  England,  45 

Bearberry  (Arctostaphylos  uva-ursi),  149 

Beauty  of  Glazenwood  Rose,  8 

Beech,  106,  107,  109 

Bengal  Rose,  history  of,  4,  $ 

Benzoin  aestivale,  84,  180 

Berberis  acuminata,  166 

Berberis  amurensis,  oo 

Berberis  atrocarpa,  166 

Berberis  canadensis,  oo 

Berberis  candidula,  166 

Berberis  Darwinii,  165 

Berberis  Gagnepainii,  96,  165 

Berberis  Julianae,  96,  166 

Berberis  Sargentiana,  96,  166 

Berberis  sinensis,  90 

Berberis  stenophylla,  97 

Berberis  Thunbergii,  90 

Berberis  triacanthophora,  166 

Berberis  Veitchii,  166 

Berberis  verruculosa,  97^,  146,  166 

Berberis  vulgaris,  90 

Berberis  Wilsonae,  oo,  166 

Berchemia  racemosa,  65 

Berchemia  scandens,  65 

Berckmans.  Louis  A.,  rediscovers  Magnolia 
cordata,  40 

Bigelow.  Dr.  Wm  Sturgis,  sends  seeds  of  Prunus 
serrulata,  var.  sachalinensis,  to  Arnold  Ar- 
boretum, 200;  also  seed  from  Japan  of  Malus 
Siebqldii,  var.,  calocarpa,  209 

Bignonia  capreolata,  68 

Birch,  106.  107 

Birch,  White.  106 

Birds,  plants  for  winter  food  of,  81 

Birthworts  CAristolochia)  74 

Black  Alder,  or  Winter-berry,  87 

Black  fruited  shrubs,  and  trees,  93 

Blackberries,  for  ornamental  fruits,  $3 

Bladder  Sennas,  49 

Bloomy  black  and  blue  fruited  shrubs,  97 

Blue  fruited  shrubs.  97 

Blueberries  (Vaccinium),  97 

Blueberries  for  ornamental  fruits,  84 

Blueberries  in  autumn  colors,  106 

Boston  Ivy,  73 

Boston  Ivy,  climbing  organs  of,  56 

Bourbon,  Isle  of,  China  Roses  introduced,  4,  7 

Boursault  Roses,  origination  of,  12 

Box«  Common,  145 

Box,  Japanese,  145 

Brambles  in  autumn  colors,  106, 109 

Bretschneider,  Dr.  E.,  introducer  of  Prunus 
triloba.  192;  sends  seeds  of  Syringa  oblata  to 
Petrograd  from  Peking,  220;  sends  seeds  of 
Syringa  pubescens  to  Arnold  Arboretum,  220; 
introduces  Syringa  villosa  into  Arnold  Arbore- 
tum, 224:  introduces  Syringa  pekinensis,  into 
cultivation  at  Arnold  Arboretum,  226 

Broad-leaved  evergreens,  not  hardy  in  New 
England,  37 

Buckeye  (Aesculus  parviflora)  for  summer  dis- 
play, 46 

Buckthorn  (Rhamnus  catharticus),  94 


Buddleia  asiatica,  168 

Buddleia  Davj.dij.  52,  167 

Buddleia  Davidii,  var.  magnifica,  52 

Buddleia  Farquharii,  168 

Buddleia  omcmalis,  168 

Buddleia  variabilis.  52 

Buffaloberry  (Shepherdia  argentea),  88 

Bull  Bay  (Magnolia  grandiflora),  171 

Burmah,  Rosa  gigantea  introduced  from,  g 

Bush  Honeysuckles,  89,  95,  98,  99 

Butternut,  106 

Buttontree,  106 

Buxus  microphyla,  145 

Buxus  microphyla,  var.  japonica,  145 

Buxus  sempervirens,  145,  146 

Buxus  sempervirens  myrtifolia,  145 

Cabbage    Rose    (Rosa    centifolia),    known    to 

Pliny,  12;  grown  for  preparation  of  Attar  of 

Roses,  13 

California,  horticultural  possibilities,  153 
Callicarpa  japonica,  <>i 
Calluna,  planting  Lilies  among,  31 
Calluna  vulgaris,  54,  150 

Calluna  vulgaris,  as  ground  cover  for  Azaleas,  247 
Camellia  cuspidata,  164 
Camellias,  introduced  into  England,  4 
Campsis  chinensis,  67 
Campsis  hybrida,  67 
Campsis  radicans,  67 
Campsis  radicans,  var.  praecox,  67 
Caroline  Testout  Rose,  wild  prototype  of,  n 
Carrieria  calycina,  171 
Caryopteris  mcana,  50 
Caryopteris  Mastacanthus,  50 
Castor  oil    plant,    gives    name    to    Kalopanax 

ricinifolium,  44 
Catalpa,  106 

Cats'  partiality  to  Actinidia  polygama,  63 
Ceanothus  hybridus,  53 
Cedar.  Atlas,  126 
Cedar,  Red,  133 
Cedar,  White,  128 
Cedar  of  Lebanon,  125;  hardy  trees  being  raised 

by  Arnold  Arboretum,  126 
Cedrus  atlantica,  126 
Cedrus  deodara,  126 

Cedrus    libani,    125;    Arnold    Arboretum    suc- 
cessful in  raising  hardy  trees,  126 
Celastrus,  56,  83 
Celastrus  articulata,  65 
Celastrus  flagellaris,  65 
Celastrus  scandens,  65 
Celtis",  for  ornamental  fruits,  84 
Chamaecyparis  thyoides,  129 
Chamaecyparis  thyoides,  var.  leptoclada,  133 
Chamaecyparis  obtusa,  127 
Chamaecyparis  obtusa,  var.  gracilis,  133 
Chamaecyparis  obtusa,  var.  nana,  130,  133 
Chamaecyparis  obtusa,  var.  nana  aurea,  133 
Chamaecyparis  pisifera,  130 
Chamaecyparis  pisifera,  var.  aurea,  131 
Chamaecyparis  pisifera,  var  filifera,  133 
Chamaecyparis  pisifera,  var.  filifera  aurea,  133 
Chamaecyparis  pisifera,  var.  plumosa,  131 
Chamaecyparis    pisifera,    var.    plumosa    albo- 

picta,  131 
Chamaecyparis  pisifera,  var.  plumosa  argentia, 

131 
Chamaecyparis    pisifera,  var.  plumosa    aurea, 

131 

Chamaecyparis  pisifera,  var.  squarrosa,  131 
Chamaecyparis  pisifera.  var.  sulphurea,  131 
Cbeckerberry,  or  Wintergreen,  149 
Cherokee  Rose  (Rosa  laevigata),  originally  from 

China,  6,   10;  on  graves  of  soldiers  in  the 

South,  17 


INDEX 


303 


Cherry,  106 

Cherry,  Cornelian,  87 

Cherry,  Japanese  Dwarf,  203 

Cherry,  Weeping,  199 

Cherry  Festival  of  Japan,  197,  199 

Cherries,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83 

Cherries,  Japanese,  beauty  of,  197,  198 

Cherries,  Wild,  109 

Chestnut,  106,  107,  109 

Chimonanthus  fragrans,  186 

China  Monthly  Rose,  prototype  of,  10 

China  Monthly  Rose  and  French  Rose  parents 

of  Hybrid  China  Roses,  7 
Chinese  Moonseed  (Sinomenium  acutum),  75 
Chin-yin-hwa  (Lonicera  japonica,  var.  chinensis), 

67 

Chiogenes  serpyllifolia,  150 
Chokeberry  (Aronia),  96 
Chrysanthemums,  introduced  into  England  from 

China,  4 
Cinnamon  Rose  (Rosa  cinnamomea),  known  to 

ancient  writers,  12 
Cinquefoil,  yellow,  49 
Clark,  William  S.,  introducer  of  Magnolia 

kobus,  var.  borealis,  185;  introduces  Syringa 

japonica  into  cultivation  at  Arnold  Arbore- 
tum, 227 

Clematis,  climbing  organs  of,  56 
Clematis  apiifolia,  70 
Clematis  Armandi,  77 
Clematis  Armandi,  f.  Farquhariana,  77 
Clematis  coccinea,  70 
Clematis  Fargesii,  70 
Clematis  glauca,  70 
Clematis  glauca,  var.  akebioides,  70 
Clematis  florida,  69 
Clematis  heracleaefolia,  50 
Clematis  Jackmani,  69 
Clematis  lanuginosa,  69 
Clematis  montana,  69 
Clematis  montana,  var.  rubens,  69 
Clematis  montana,  var.  Wilsonii,  70 
Clematis  paniculata,  70 
Clematis  patens,  69 
Clematis  stans,  50 
Clematis  tangutica,  70 
Clematis  Viticella,  69 
Clerodendron  trichotomura,  45 
Clethra  acuminata,  46 
Clethra  alnifolia,  46 
Clethra  canescens,  47 
Clethra  tomentosa,  46 
Climbing  plants,  climbing  organs  of,  56;  pergolas 

for,  57;  trellises,  58;  on  trees,  59;  best  situations 

for,  59 

Climbing  shrubs,  evergreen,  75,  76 
Climbing  shrubs,  hardy,  55-77 
Cocculus  Thunbergii,  75 
Cocculus  trilobus,  75 

Coignet,  M.,  introducer  of  Rambler  Rose,  9 
Collett,  General,  introduces  Rosa  gigantea  from 

Burmah,  9 

Coloring  of  the  leaves  in  autumn,  101 
Colutea  arborescens,  49 
Colutea  cilicica,  49 
Colutea  orientalis,  49 
Colville's  Nursery,  London,  introducers  of  Rosa 

microphylla,  or  Rosa  Roxburgh", 7 
Comptonia,  planting  Lilies  among,  31 
Coralberry  (Symphoricarpos  orbiculatus),  99 
Corema  Conradii,  149 
Corktrees,  Asiatic  (Phellodendron),  93 
Cornel,  106,  no 

Cornel,  Silky  (Cornus  Amomum),  98 
Cornus,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83 
Cornus  alba,  99 
Cornus  Amomum,  98 


Cornus  Arnoldiana,  99 

Cornus  candidissima,  99 

Cornus  circinata,  99 

Cornus  florida,  87 

Cornus  Heyeri,  99 

Cornus  mas,  87 

Cornus  mas,  var.  xanthocarpa,  87 

Cornus  obliqua,  98 

Cornus  occidentalis,  99 

Cornus  oreophilus,  99 

Cornus  racemosa,  99 

Cornus  rugosa,  99 

Cornus  sanguinea,  99 

Cornus  stolonifera,  99 

Corydalis  thalictrifolia,  241 

Corydalis  Wilsonii,  241 

Corylopsis  pauciflora.  170 

Corylopsis  platypetala,  170 

Corylopsis  sinensis,  170 

Corylopsis  spicata,  170 

Corylopsis  Veitchiana,  170 

Corylopsis  Wilhnottiana,  170 

Cotoneaster,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83 

Cotoneaster,  new  species  of,  158 

Cotoneaster  acutifolia,  96 

Cotoneaster  acutifolia,  var.  villosula,  96 

Cotoneaster  adpressa,  91 

Cotoneaster  amoena,  159 

Cotoneaster  bullata,  91 

Cotoneaster  bullata,  var.  macrophylla,  91 

Cotoneaster  Dammeri,  91,  159 

Cotoneaster  disticha,  91 

Cotoneaster  divaricata,  91 

Cotoneaster  faveolata,  96 

Cotoneaster  Franchettii,  159 

Cotoneaster  Harroviana,  158 

Cotoneaster  Henryana,  159 

Cotoneaster  horizontalis,  91 

Cotoneaster  horizontalis,  var.  perpusilla,  91 

Cotoneaster  humifusa,  159 

Cotoneaster  hupehensis,  91 

Cotoneaster  lucida,  96 

Cotoneaster  monpinensis,  96 

Cotoneaster  multiflora,  91 

Cotoneaster  nitens,  96 

Cotoneaster  pannosa,  156,  158 

Cotoneaster  racemiflora,  91 

Cotoneaster  racemiflora,  var.  soongorica,  91 

Cotoneaster  salici/olia,  92,  158 

Cotoneaster  salicifolia,  var.  noccosa,  92,  158 

Cotoneaster  salicifolia,  var.  rugosa,  92,  158 

Cotoneaster  vulgaris,  96 

Cotoneaster,  Willow-leaved,  158 

Coventry,    Lord   introduces   Kdelreuteria   into 

England,  41 

Cowberry  (Vaccinium  Vitis-idaea),  148 
Crabapples,  79,  83,  93,  203,  205 
Crataegus,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83,  85 
Crataegus  Arnoldiana,  85 
Crataegus  cordata,  85 
Crataegus  crus-galli,  86 
Crataegus  monogyna,  86 
Crataegus  nitida,  85 
Crataegus  Oxyacantha,  86 
Crataegus  pinnatifida,  86 
Crataegus  pruinosa,  86 
Crataegus  punctata,  86 
Crataegus  succulenta,  85 
Crimson  Monthly  Rose,  Fairy  Rose  a  variant,  7 
Crimson  Rambler  Rose,  origin  of,  9 
Cross-vine  (Anissotichuscapreolatus),  68 
Crowberry  (Empetrum  nigrum),  149 
Currant,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83 
Cypress  (Taxodium),  113 
Cypress,  Chinese  CGlyptostrobus),  114 
Cytisus  capitatus,  49 
Cytisus  nigricans,  49 


304 


INDEX 


Damask  Rose,  one  of  the  parents  of  Hybrid 
Perpetual,  or  Remontant,  Roses,  7;  known  to 
ancient  writers,  is;  grown  for  preparation  of 
Attar  of  Roses,  13 

Daphne  Cneorum,  147,  181 

Davidia  involucrata,  Story  of  the,  Mr.  Wilson 
sent  by  Messrs.  Veitch  to  China,  275;  en  route 
meets  Professor  Sargent  and  Mr.  Jackson 
Dawson  at  Arnold  Arboretum,  276;  reaches 
Hongkong^  276;  by  small  boat  and  overland 
to  Laokai,  278;  detained  two  months  on 
account  of  Boxer  uprising,  270;  thought  to 
be  a  spy,  281;  Proceeds  on  journey  and  meets 
at  Mengtsze,  W.  F.  S.  Spinney  who  with  his 
family  had  escaped  the  mob,  283;  meets  Dr. 
Henry  at  Szemao,  285;  returns  to  Hongkong, 
286;  Arrives  at  Ichang,  his  headquarters 
for  two  years,  and  outfits  for  expedition,  286; 
through  hostile  country  to  location  of  Dr. 
Henry's  tree,  and  finds  it  destroyed!  289; 
weeks  later  accidentally  discovers  a  Davidia 
in  full  flower,  290;  later  discovers  ten  others 
and  collects  quantity  of  seeds  which  sends  to 
England,  291;  On  return  to  England  finds 
that  one  plant  had  been  raised  in  France 
from  seeds  antedating  his  introduction,  294 

Davidia  involucrata,  var.  Vilmoriniana,  294 

Dawson,  Jackson,  met  in  Boston  by  Mr.  Wilson 
en  route  in  search  of  Davidia,  276 

De  Candolle,  referred  Glycine  sinensis  to  Wis- 
taria genus,  60 

D'Incaryille,  Father,  sends  seeds  of  Sophora 
japonica  to  France,  42 

Deodar,  126 

Deutzia  discolor,  169 

Deutzia  longifoha,  169 

Deutzia  longifolia,  var.  Veitchii,  169 

Deutzia  molliSj  169 

Deutzia  Schneidenana,  169 

Deutzia  Schneideriana,  var.  larifolia,  169 

Deutzia  Wilsonii,  169 

Deutzias,  planting  Lilies  among,  31 

Deutzias,  valuable  for  forcing,  170 

Dexter,  F.  Gordon,  first  to  send  Lilium  auratum 
to  America,  21;  also  first  double  purple  variety 
of  Japanese  Wistaria,  62 

Dirca  palustris,  83,  180 

Diospyros  virginiana,  84,  93 

Dogwood,  Poison,  107 

Dogwoods,  for  ornamental  fruit,  83 

Douglas  David,  introduces  Douglas  Fir  (Pseu- 
dotsuga  taxif  olia)  into  England,  1 18 

Dutchman's  Pipe  (Aristolochia  durior),  56,  74 

Dwarf  conifers,  132 

Dwarf  trees,  Japanese,  124,  129,  188 

Dwarf  trees  in  pots,  Japanese,  188,  203 

Dyes  made  from  Sophora  japonica,  43 

Easter  Lily,  type  of  group,  25 

Elaeagnus,  for  ornamental  fruits,  84 

Elaeagnus  angustifolia,  88 

Elaeagnus  longipes,  88 

Elaeagnus  umbellata,  88 

Elder,  105 

Elderberry  (Sambucus  canadensis),  94 

Elderberries,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83 

Elm,  106,  109,  176 

Elsholtzia  Stauntonii,  introduced  into  Arnold 

Arboretum  by  Mr.  j.  G.  Jack,  51 
Empetrum  nigrum,  149 
Epigaea  repens,  148 
Eranthis  hyemalis,  174 
Erica  carnea,  53,  180 
Erica  carnea  alba,  180 
Erica  cinerea,  54 
Erica  Mackaii,  $4 
Erica  Stricta,  54 


Erica  Tetralix,  54 

Erica  vagans,  53 

Erica  vagans,  var.  alba,  53 

Erica  vagans,  var.  grandiflora,  53  / 

Erica  vagans,  var.  rubra,  53 

Ericas,  150 

Ericas,  as  ground  cover  for  Azaleas,  247 

Ericas,  planting  Lilies  among,  31 

Eucalyptus,  hardy  in  California,  37 

Evans,  Thomas,  from  China  sends  first  Rambler 

Rose  to  England.  5 
Evergreen  climbers,  75,  76 
Evonymus,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83 
Evonymus  alatus,  88 
Evonymus  Bungeanus,  88 
Evonymus  kewensis,  76,  151 
Evonymus  minimus,  76 
Evonymus  r  ad  jeans.  75,  151 
Evonymus  radicans,  var.  acutus,  151 
Evonymus  radicans,  var.  minimus,  151 
Evonymus  radicans,  var.  vegetus,  75,  76,  151 
Evonymus  radicans,  climbing  organs  of,  57 

Fairy  Rose  (Rosa  chinensis,  var.  minima) 
introduced  into  England  from  Mauritius,  7 

Farges,  Pere,  sends  first  seeds  of  Davidia  in- 
volucrata to  Europe,  294 

Father  Hugh's  Rose  (Rosa  Hugonis),  one  of  six 
known  yellow  species,  15 

Ferns,  planting  Lilies  among,  31 

Fir,  Douglas  (Pseudotsuga  taxifolia),  118 

Firs  (Abies).,  116 

Fitzgerald,  Edward,  Rose  on  grave  of,  16 

Flowering  Dogwood,  87 

Foreign  trees  and  shrubs  in  the  United  States, 
36 

Forsythia  europae,  193 

Forsythia  intermedia,  192,  193 

Forsythia  intermedia  spectabUis,  192,  193 

Forsythia  suspensa,  192 

Forsythia  vindissima,  192 

Forsythias,  or  Golden  Bells,  192 

Fox  Grape  (Vitis  labrusca),  73,  no 

Fortune,  Robert,  plant  collector  in  China, 
sends  to  England,  Rosa  odorata,  var.  pseudo- 
indica  and  Rosa  Fortuneana,  8;  discovers 
Actinidia  chinensis,  64;  introduces  Jasminum 
nudiflorum^  187;  introduces  Syringa  oblata 
into  England,  220 

Fraser,  John,  introduces  Rhododendron  cataw- 
biense  into  England  from  America.  264 

Fraxinus  americana,  106 

French  Rose  (Rosa  gallica),  with  Rose  Edward, 
parents  of  Hybrid  Bourbon  Roses,  7;  known 
to  Pliny,  ii ;  grown  for  preparation  of  Attar  of 
Roses,  TS 

Frost  Grape  (Vitis  cordifolia),  73 

Fruit  trees,  floral  charms  of,  196 

Garland-flower  (Daphne  cneorum),  147,  181 

Garden  Magazine,  article  on  Buddleia,  52 

Gaultherta  procumbens,  149 

Gaylussacia  brachycera,  148 

Genista  tinctoria,  var.  elata,  49 

Gerard,  cultivates  Lilac  in  London  in  1597,  213 

Giant  Lily,  type  of  group,  25 

Gibbes,  Prof.  L.  R.,  discoverer  of  Tsuga  caro- 

liniana,  1 23 
Gilbert,    Mr.,    exhibitor    of    "The    Engineer" 

Rose,  afterward  named  the  Crimson  Rambler, 

8 

Ginksro  biloba,  106,  135 
Girald,  Pere  G.,  Syringa  affinis,  var.  Giraldii 

named  after,  219 
Gleditsia,  106 
Glycine  frutescens,  60 
Glycine  sinensis,  60 


INDEX 


305 


Glyptostrobus,  114 

Gooseberry,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83 

Gordon,  J.,  introduces  Sophora  japonica  into 

England  42 
Gordonia  altamaha,  discovered  by  John  Bartram 

and  introduced  by  his  son,  William,  45 
Grape,  Fox  (Vitis  labrusca),  73,  "o 
Grape,  Frost  (Vitis  cordifolia),  73 
Grape,  Oregon.  146 
Grape,  Sugar  (Vitis  rupestris),  73 
Grape,  Summer  (Vitis  aestivalis),  73 
Grapevine,  climbing  organs  of,  56 
Grapevines  (Vitis),  70 
Greenbriers  (Smilax),  75 
Greville,    Charles   Francis,    introduces    "Seven 

Sisters"  Rose   (Rosa  multiflora,  var.   platy- 

phylla),  5 

Gronovius,  writes  in  1704,  of  Bengal  Rose,  5 
Ground  cover,  plants  tor,  147,  148,  149,  159 
Ground  cover  for  Azaleas,  247 
Guelder  Rose  (Viburnum  Opulus,  var.  xantho- 

carpum),  92 
Gum,  Blue  (Eucalyptus),  113 

Hackberry,  for  ornamental  fruits,  84 

Hackmatack  or  Tamarack,  134 

Hall,  Dr.  George  R.,  sends  first  seeds  of  Japanese 
Wistaria  to  America,  62;  brings  collection 
valuable  plants  from  Japan,  184;  introduces 
Malus  Halliana  into  the  United  States,  206 

Hall's  Honeysuckle  (Lonicera  japonica,  var. 
Halliana),  67 

Hamamelis  japonica,  178 

Hamamelis  mollis,  178 

Hamamelis  vernalis,  178 

Hamamelis  virginiana,  177,  178 

Hamamelis  virginiana.  var.  arborea,  178 

Harison  Rose,  probable  derivation  of,  16 

Hazelnut  (Corylus),  176 

Hawthorn,  106 

Hawthorns,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83,  85 

Heath  (Erica  carnea),  180 

Heath,  Cornish,  53 

Heath,  Downy  (Erica  cinerea),  54 

Heath,  Irish  (DobSeia  polifolia),  54 

Heaths,  hardy,  53 

Hedera  Helix,  150 

Hedera  Helix,  var.  amurensis,  77 

Hedera  Helix,  var.  canariensis,  77 

Hedera  Helix,  var.  chrysocarpa,  77 

Hedera  Helix,  var.  colchica,  77 

Hedera  Helix,  var.  crenata,  77 

Hedera  Helix,  var.  deltoidea,  77 

Hedera  Helix,  var.  rhombea,  77 

Hedera  Helix,  climbing  organs  of,  57 

Hemlock  (Tsuga  canadensis)  114,  122 

Hemlock,  Carolina,  123 

Henry,  Dr.  A.,  finds  prototype  of  Rosa  chinenesis, 
var.  spontanea,  10;  visited  by  Mr.  Wilson  in 
quest  of  Dayidia,  275 

Henry,  L.,  originator  of  Syringa  Henryi,  228 

Hercules  Club  (Aralia  spmosa),  94 

Hibiscus  syriacus,  for  summer  resorts,  39 

Hickory,  106 

Highbush  Cranberry  (Viburnum  americanum), 

QI 

Highland  Park,  Rochester,  display  of  Lilacs  at, 

217 

Hobble  Bush  (Viburnum  alnifolium),  95 
Hogplum,  Chinese,  173 
Holly,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83 
Holly,  new  varieties  of,  164 
Holly,  American,  143 
Holly,  English,  87 
Holly  Mountain,  88 
Honey  Locust  (Gleditsia),  106 
Honeysuckle,  Bush,  89,  95,  98,  99,  193 


Honeysuckle,  Swamp,  252 

Honeysuckles,  European,  66 

Honeysuckles,  for  fruits  and  flowers,  79,  82 

Horsechestnut,  106 

Hortensia,  for  summer  resorts,  39 

Huckleberry,  Box,  148 

Hume,    Sir   Abraham,   introduces   Tea-scented 

Rose  into  England  from  China,  5 
Hunnewell  Pinetum,  Pseudolarix  Kaempferi  at, 

Hybrid  Bourbon  Rose,  origin  of,  7;  used  in  ori- 
ginating Hybrid  Perpetual  or  Remontant 
Roses,  7 

Hybrid  China  Rose,  used  in  originating  Hybrid 
Perpetual  or  Remontant  Roses,  7;  parentage  of, 

Hybrid  Perpetual  or  Remontant  Roses,  parentage 

of,  8 
Hybrid  Perpetual  and  Tea  Rose,   parents  of 

Hybrid  Tea  Roses,  8 
Hybrid  Tea  Roses,  parentage  of,  8 
Hydrangea,  Climbing  (Hydrangea  petiolaris),  68 
Hydrangea  opuloides,  var.  otsaka  for  summer 

display,  39 

Hydrangea  paniculata,  for  summer  resorts,  39 
Hydrangea  petiolaris,  68 
Hydrangea  petiolaris,  climbing  organs  of,  57 
Hydrangeas,  for  summer  resorts,  39 
Hypericum  patulum,  var.  Henryi,  50 

Hex,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83 

Bex  Aquifolium,  87,  143,  165 

Ilex  Aquifolium,  var.  fructu-luteo,  87 

Ilex  crenata,  96,  144 

Ilex  cp  rail  in  a,  165 

Hex  Fargesii,  164 

Bex  Franchetiana,  164 

Bex  glabra,  96,  144 

Bex  laevigata,  88 

Bex  opaca,  87,  143 

Bex  Pernyi,  164 

Ilex  Sieboldii,  88 

Bex  Sieboldii,  var.  fructu-albo,  88 

Ilex  Veitchii,  164 

Bex  verticillata,  88 

Bex  verticillata,  var.  chrysocarpa,  88 

Bex  yunnanensis,  165 

"Index  Kewensis"  number  of  species  of  Rose 

enumerated  in,  10 
Indigofera  amblyantha,  51 
Indigofera  decora,  50 
Indigofera  Gerardiana,  51 
Indigofera  Kirilowii,  50 
Indigoferas,  planting  Lilies  among,  31 
Inkberry  (Bex  glabra),  96,  144 
Irritability  or  sensitiveness  in  plants,  55 
Iris  chrysogjaphes,  239 
Iris  Wilsonii,  239 

Irish  Ivy  (Hedera  Helix,  var.  canariensis).  77 
Itea  ilicifolia,  165 
Ivy,  climbing  organs  of,  57 
Ivy,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83 

Jack,  J.  G.,  introduces  Elsholtzia  Stauntonii  into 
Arnold  Arboretum,  51;  introduces  Rhododen- 
dron poukhanense,  256 
'apanese  dwarf  trees,  124,  188,  203 
asminum  Beesianum,  167 
asminum  nudiflorum,  187 
asminum  primulinum,  156,  167.  286 
'enner,  Mr.,  original  owner  of    The  Engineer" 

Rose,  afterward  named  Crimson  Rambler,  8 
Juniper,  Chinese,  133 
Juniper,  Common,  134 
Juniperus  chinensis,  133 
Juniperus  chinensis,  var.  Sargentii,  132 


306 


INDEX 


uniperus  chinensis,  var.  Pfitzeriana,  133 

uniperus  communis,  134 

uniperus  communis,  var.  oblonga,  134 

uniperus  horizontalis,  132 

uniperus  procumbens,  132 

uniperus  rigida,  134 

uniperus  squama ta,  132 

uniperus  virginiana,  133 

uniperus  virginiana,  var.  tripartite,  133 

Kalmia  angustifolia,  142 

Kalmia  glauca,  142 

Kalmia  latifolia,  140,  141 

Kalmia  latifolia,  var.  alba,  141 

Kalmia  latifolia,  var.  fuscata,  141 

Kalmia  latifolia,  var.  myrtifolia,  141 

Kalmia  latifolia,  var.  obtusata,  141 

Kalmia  latifolia,  var.  polypetala,  141 

Kalmia  latifolia,  var.  rubra,  141 

Kalopanax  ricinifolium,  41,  43,  94 

Kerr,  William,  plant  collector  in  China  sends 

out,  1807,  Rosa  Banksiae,  6 
Kew    Gardens,   Forsythia    europae   introduced 

into,  193 

Killarney  Rose,  wild  prototypes  of,  1 1 
Kpelreuteria  apiculata,  now  in  cultivation,  42 
Koelreuteria  paniculata,  for  summer  display,  41 

Lace-wing  Fly,  Rhododendron  pest,  271 

Lady  Hillingdon  Rose,  wild  prototype  of,  1 1 

La-mei-hwa  shrub,  186 

Larch  (Larix),  113 

Larch,  Golden  (Pseudolarix),  113 

Larches,  134 

Larix  decidua.  134 

Larix  Kaempferi,  134 

Larix  laricina,  134 

Laurel,  Mountain,  140 

Laurel,  Pale,  142 

Laurel,  Sheep,  142 

Lavender,  Lilies  planted  with,  31 

Leatherwood,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83 

Leatherwood  (Dirca  palustris),  180 

Lee  and  Kennedy,  introduce  Rosa  rugosa  into 
England,  1796,  6 

Lemoine,  Victor,  hybridizer,  169 

Lemoine  et  Fils,  V.,  introducers  of  Syringa 
affinis,  var.  Giraldii,  220 

Lespedeza  bicolor,  51 

Lespedeza  crytobotrya,  51 

Lespedeza  formosa,  51 

Lespedezas,  planting  Lilies  among,  31 

Leucothog  Catesbaei,  143 

Libocedrus  (Incense  Cedar),  113 

Ligustrum  Delavayanum,  163 

Ligustrum  Henryj,  163 

Ligustrum  Prattii,  163 

Ligustrum  vulgare,  96 

Ligustrum  vulgare,  var.  foliosum,  96 

Lilac,  Common,  213 

Lilac,  Himalayan,  225 

Lilac,  Hungarian,  214,  224,  228 

Lilac,  Japanese  Tree,  215 

Lilac,  Persian,  214,  221 

Lilac,  Rouen,  228 

Lilac,  Summer,  52,  167 

Lilacs,  how  propagated,  216 

Lilacs,  Hybrid,  227 

Lilacs,  soil  requirements,  215 

Lilacs,  Tree,  226 

Lilacs,  Winter,  168 

Lilies,  how  they  grow,  19;  beginnings  of  bulb 
growing  by  Japanese,  22;  range  of  the  genus, 
24,  25;  botanical  groups,  25;  grouping  as  hardy 
and  tender  varieties,  etc.,  25;  detest  lime,  26; 
require  drainage,  26;  varieties  from  Thibet 
and  China,  29;  soil  requirements,  23,  26,  31, 


34;  importance  of  mulching,  32,  34;  planted 
among  shrubs,  31;  root  systems  of,  32;  how 
and  when  to  plant,  33 

Lilium  auratum,  introduced,  1862,  in  England 
and  America,  21;  esteemed  in  Japan,  as  food, 
21 ;  most  common  in  Japan,  22;  difficulty  in 
growing,  22,  35;  soil  requirements,  23;  selec- 
tion of  bulbs  for  planting,  24;  type  of  group, 
25;  planted  among  Rhododendrons,  31;  root 
system  of,  32;  satisfactory  in  every  garden,  35 

Lilium  auratum,  var.  platyphyllum,  22 

Lilium,  botanical  groups,  25 

Lilium  candidum,  20,  26,  35 

Lilium  croceum,  satisfactory  in  every  garden,  35 

Lilium  giganteum,  25,  26 

Lilium  Henryi,  25,  30,  31,  32,  35,  242 

Lilium  Hansonii,  31,  35 

Lilium  longiflorum,  25,  26 

Lilium  pardalinum,  27,  31,  35 

Lilium  philippinense,  25 

Lilium  neilgherrense,  25 

Lilium  nepalense,  26 

Lilium  martagon,  26 

Lilium  myriophyllum,  or  Regal  Lily,  28 

Lilium  regale,  25,  26,  28,  32,  35,  242 

Lilium  Sargentiae,  29,  35 

Lilium  speciosum,  31,  35 

Lilium  superbum,  27,  31,  35 

Lilium  sulphureum,  26 

Lilium  testaceum,  26,  35 

Lilium  tigrinum,  20,  25,  35,  242 

Lilium  Thayerae,  30,  35 

Lilium  umbellatum,  25,  35 

Lime,  not  for  lilies,  26 

Lindley's  Rose  (Rosa  xanthina).  introduced  in 
1908  by  F.  N.  Meyer,  of  United  States  De- 
partment of  Agriculture,  15 

Ling  (Calluna  vulgaris),  53,  54 

Linden,  106,  109 

Lindens,  for  summer  display,  40 

Lobb,  William,  introduces  Giant  Arborvitae 
(Thuja  plicata),  into  England,  127 

Locust  (Robinia),  105 

Lonicera  Brownii,  66 

Lonicera  Brownii.  f.  fuchsioides,  66 

Lonicera,  Caprifolium,  56,  67 

Lonicera  chrysantha,  89 

Lonicera  coerulea,  98 

Lonicera  coerulea,  var.  altaica,  98 

Lonicera  coerulea,  var.  gracilinora,  98 

Lonicera  coerulea,  var.  villosa,  98 

Lonicera  flava,  66 

Lonicera  fragrantissima,  193 

Lonicera  glaucescens,  66 

Lonicera  Heckrotti,  66 

Lonicera  Henryi,  76,  151 

Lonicera  hirsuta,  66 

Lonicera  involucrata,  96 

Lonicera  japonica,  var.  chinensis,  67 

Lonicera  japonica,  var.  Halliana,  67 

Lonicera  Maackii,  90 

Lonicera  Maackii,  var.  podocarpa,  90 

Lonicera  micrantha,  92 

Lonicera  minutiflora,  92 

Lonicera  Morrowii,  89,  92 

Lonicera  muscaviensisj  89 

Lonicera  muendeniensis,  89 

Lonicera  nervosa,  95 

Lonicera  nigra,  95 

Lonicera  nitida,  163 

Lonicera  Percilymenum,  66 

Lonicera  Periclymenum,  var.  belgica,  67 

Lonicera  pileata,  163 

Lonicera  prolifera,  66 

Lonicera  quinquelocularis,  99 

Lonicera  Ruprechtiana,  89 

Lonicera  Ruprechtiana,  var.  xanthocarpa,  92 


INDEX 


307 


Lonicera  sempervirens,  66 

Lonicera  Standishii,  193 

Lonicera  Sullivantii,  66 

Lonicera  syringinantha,  90 

Lonicera  syringinantha,  var.  Wolfii,  QO 

Lonicera  tatarica,  89 

Lonicera  tatarica,  f.  lutea,  92 

Lonicera  thibetica,  90 

Lonicera  Xylosteum,  89 

Lycium  halimifolium,  65 

Macartney,  Lord,  introduces  Rosa  bracteata  into 

England  from  China,  6 
Madonna  Lily  (Liiium  candidum),  20.  33 
Magnolia  Campbellii,  186 
Magnolia  conspicua,  182 
Magnolia  cordata,  discovered  by  Michaux,  40 
Magnolia  Delay  yi,  171 
Magnolia  denudata,  182,  184 
Magnolia  denudata,  var.  purpurascens,  182 
Magnolia  discolor,  184 
Magnolia  glauca,  for  summer  display,  40 
Magnolia  grandiflora,  171 
Magnolia  Halleana,  184 
Magnolia  kobus,  185 
Magnolia  kobus,  var.  borealis,  185 
Magnolia  Lennei,  184 
Magnolia  liliflora,  184 
Magnolia  obovata,  184 
Magnolia  obovata ,  var.  discolor,  183 
Magnolia  purpurea,  184 
Magnolia  rustica  rubra,  184 
Magnolia  Soulangeana,  184 
Magnolia  stellata,  185 
Magnolia  stellata,  var.,  rosea,  185 
Magnolias,  182 
Mahonia  aquifolium,  97,  146 
Mahonia  repens,  97,  146 
Mahonia  japonica,  97 
Maidenhair  Tree  (Ginkgo),  106,  107 ,"135 
Malus,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83 
Malus  angustifolia,  204 
Malus  atrosanguinea,  207 
Malus  baccata,  204 
Malus  coronaria,  204 
Malus  floribunda,  207 
Malus  fusca,  204 
Malus  glaucescens,  204 
Malus  Halliana,  206 
Malus  Halliana  Parkmanii,  206 
Malus  ioensis,  204 
Malus  prunifolia,  var.  rinki,  aio 
Malus  ringo,  210 
Malus  Sargentii,  211 
Malus  Scheideckeri,  205 
Malus  Sieboldii,  208 
Malus  Sieboldii,  var.  arborescens,  209 
Malus  Sieboldii,  var.  calocarpa,  209 
Malus  spectabilis,  205,  206 
Malus  toringo,  208 
Malus  zumi,  209 
Maple,  Mountain,  106 
Maple,  Red,  101,  102,  106,  107,  176 
Maple,  Silver,  106,  176 
Maple,  Striped,  106 
Maple,  Sugar,  102,  106,  108 
Maples,  107 
Maries,     Charles,     introducer    of     Hamamelis 

mollis,  178 

Matrimony  Vine  (Lycium  chinense),  65 
Mauritius,   Fairy   Rose    (Rosa   chinensis,   var., 

minima),  introduced  into  England  from,  7 
Mayflower,  or  Trailing  Arbutus,  148 
McLaren,  California  horticulturist,  155,  158 
Meconop?is  integrifolia,  230 
Menispermum  canadense,  75 
Menispermum  dauricum,  75 


Menzies,  Archibald,  discoverer  of  Pseudotsuga 
taxifolia,  118 

Meratia  praecox,  186 

Meyer,  F.  N.,  introduces  Lindley's  Rose  (Rosa 
xanthina),  15 

Mezereon  (Daphne  mezereum),  180 

Michaux,  named  Rosa  laevigata,  6;  discoverer 
of  Magnolia  cordata,  40 

Mrs.  George  Shawyer  Rose,  wild  prototype  of,  n 

Mrs.  Chas.  Russell  Rose,  wild  prototype  of,  u 

Mitchella  repens,  150 

Moonseeds  (Menispermum),  75 

Mortier,  hybridizer  of  Azaleas,  254 

Moss  Rose  (Rosa  centifolia,  var.  muscosa), 
known  to  ancient  writers,  12 

Muenden  Botanic  Garden,  origination  of  Loni- 
cera muendeniensis  at,  90 

Mulberry,  84,  106 

Mulching,  important  for  Lilies,  32 

Musk  Rose,  8,  12,  156 

Nee,   discoverer   of   Giant   Arborvitae    (Thuja 

plicata),  127 

Nemopanthus  mucronatus,  88 
Noisette  Roses,  parentage  of,  8 
Nuttall,  gave  name  to  Wistaria  genus,  60 
Nyssa,  for  ornamental  fruits,  84 
Nyssa  sylvatica,  108 

Oak,  Black,  109 

Oak,  English,  109 

Oak,  Red,  107,  108,  109 

Oak,  Scarlet,  106,  108 

Oak,  Swamp,  109 

Oak,  White,  106,  108,  100 

Olearias,  planting  Lilies  among,  31 

Oleasters  (Elaeagnus),  88 

Orange  and  yellow  fruited  shrubs,  9* 

Osmanihus  armatus,  167 

Osmanthus  Delavayi,  167 

Osteomeles  Schwennae,  161 

Oxydendrum  arboreum,  for  summer  display,  40 

Pachysandra  terminalis,  147 

Pachystima  Canbyi,  148 

Pachystima  Myrsmites,  148 

Pacific  Slope,  horticultural  possibilities,  153 

Panama- California  Exposition,  floral  displays  at, 

Panama-Pacific  International  Exposition,  floral 
displays  at,  153 

Panther  Lily  (Liiium  pardalinum),  27,  31 

Pagoda  Tree  (Spphora  japonica),  for  summer 
display,  41;  introduced  into  France  from 
China  by  Father  d'Incarville,  42 

Parkman,  Francis,  introduces  Liiium  auratum 
in  America,  21;  first  cultivates  double  purple 
variety  of  Japanese  Wistaria  in  America,  jfo; 
first  in  United  States  to  cultivate  Malus 
Halliana,  206 

Parks,  John  Damper,  plant  collector  in  China, 
sends  out  1824,  Rosa  Banksiae,  var.  lutea, 
and  Rosa  odorata ,  var.  ochroleuca,  6 

Parry,  Dr.,  discoverer  of  Picea  pungens,  120 

Parsons,  Samuel  B.,  receives  first  seeds  of  Jap- 
anese Wistaria  sent  to  America,  62;  acquires 
collection  of  Japanese  plants  from  Dr.  Geo.  R. 
Hall,  184 

Parthenocissus  Henryana,  73 

Parthenocissus  quinquefolia,  73 

Parthenocissus  quinquefolia,  var.  San  Paulii,  73 

Parthenocissus  Thomspnii,  74 

Parthenocissus  tricuspidata,  56,  73 

Parthenocissus  vitacea,  73 

Partridgeberry  (Mitchella  repens),  150 

Peach,  106,  188 

Pear,  106 


308 


INDEX 


Pentanthera  Azaleas,  249,  250 

Peonies,  Mouton,  introduced  into  England  from 

China,  4 

Pepperbush  (Clethra),  for  summer  display,  46 
Pergolas,  appropriateness  of,  57;  vines  for,  169 
Periploca  graeca,  64 
Periploca  sepium,  64 
Periwinkle,  Lesser,  147 
Pernettya  mucronata,  100 
Pernettya  rupicola,  100 
Perennial  plants,  new  varieties  from  China,  230; 

conditions  necessary  to  cultivation  of,  232 
Perry,  Commodore,  influence  on  horticulture,  21 
Persimmon  (Diospyros  virginiana),  84,  93 
Petrograd  Botanic  Garden,  Lonicera  muscavien- 

sis  originated  at,  89 
Pheasants,  shrubs  for  food  of,  92 
Phellodendron  (Asiatic  Corktree),  93 
Phellodendron,  for  ornamental  fruits,  84 
Phellodendron  amurense,  94 
Phellodendron  chinense,  94 
Phellodendron  japonicum,  94 
Phellodendron  Lavallei,  94 
Phellodendron  sachalinense,  94 
Photinia  Davidsoniae,  160 
Photinia  glabra,  160 
Photinia  serrulata,  160 
Picea  Abies,  120 

Picea  Abies,  var.  Clanbrassiliana,  132 
Picea  Abies,  var.  Elwangeri,  132 
Picea  Abies,  var.  Gregorgana,  132 
Picea  Abies,  var.  nana,  132 
Picea  Abies,  var.  procumbens,  132 
Picea  Abies,  var.  pumila,  132 
Picea  canadensis,  121 
Picea  Engelmannii,  121 
Picea  excelsa,  120 
Picea  omorika,  121 
Picea  orientalis,  122 
Picea  pungens,  119,  138 
Pieris  floribunda,  142 
Pieris  japonica,  143 
Pine,  Austrian,  124 
Pine,  Balkan  White,  123 
Pine,  Foxtail,  123 
Pine,  Jack,  125 

Pine,  Japanese  Black,  124,  125 
Pine,  Japanese,  Table,  132 
Pine,  Japanese  Umbrella,  126 
Pine,  Japanese  White,  124 
Pine,  Korean  Nut,  124 
Pine,  Mountain,  131 
Pine,  Red,  124 
Pine,  Scots,  124 
Pine,  Scrub,  125 
Pine,  Swiss,  124 
Pine,  White,  114,  123,  131 
Pinus  Banksiana,  125 
Pinus  cembra,  124 

Pinus  densiflora,  var.  umbraculifera,  132 
Pinux  flexilis,  123 
Pinus  koraiensis,  124 
Pinus  montana,  131 
Pinus  monticola,  123 
Pinus  mughus,  132 
Pinus  nigra,  124 
Pinus  parvifloria,  124 
Pinus  peuke,  123 
Pinus  pumilio,  132 
Pinus  resinosa,  124 
Pinus  Strobus,  114,  123 
Pinus  Strobus,  var.  nana,  131 
Pinus  sylvestris.  124 
Pinus  Thunbergii,  124,  125 
Pinus  virginiana,  125 
Pistacia  chinensis,  172 
Plant  collectors  first  sent  to  China,  6,  8,  9 


Pliny,  Roses  known  by,  12 

Plukenet,  in  his  "Almagestum,"  1670,  mentions 
new  Roses  from  China,  4 

Plum,  106 

Plum  Gardens  of  Tokyo,  187 

Plums,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83 

Poison  Dogwood,  107 

Poison  Ivy,  106,  no 

Polygonum  baldschuanicum,  66 

Polygonium  multiflorum,  66 

Poplar,  io6j  177 

Populus  lasiocarpa,  173 

Populus  Simonii,  174 

Populus  suaveolens,  174 

Populus  szechuanica,  174 

Populus  Wilsonii,  174 

Potentilla  fruticosa,  50 

Potentilla  fruticosa,  var.  parvifolia,  50 

Potentilla  fruticosa,  var.  Veitchii,  50 

Primrose,  China,  introduced  into  England,  4 

Primrose  hybrids,  240 

Primula  hybrids,  "Unique"  and  "Unique  Im- 
proved" 240 

Primula  Cockburniana,  239 

Primula  pulverulenta,  239 

Primula  pulverulenta,  var.,  Mrs.  R.  V.  Berkeley, 
240 

Primula  Veitchii,  239,  241 

Privets  (Ligustrum),  96 

Provence  Rose  (Rosa  provincialis),  known  to 
Pliny,  12 

Prunus,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83 

Prunus  ansu,  190 

Prunus  Armeniaca,  190 

Prunus  Davidiana,  189 

Prunus  glandulosa,  191 

Prunus  incisa,  202 

Prunus  japonica,  191 

Prunus  Lannesiana,  201,  202 

Prunus  Lannesiana  Gioiko,  202 

Prunus  Lannesiana  grandiflora,  201 

Prunus  mira,  189 

Prunus  mandschurica,  190 

Prunus  mume,  187,  190 

Prunus  Persica,  188 

Prunus  pseudo-cerasus,  201 

Prunus  Sargentii,  200 

Prunus  serrulata,  201 

Prunus  serrulata  albo-rosea,  201 

Prunus  serrulata  "James  H.  Veitch,"  201 

Prunus  serrulata,  var.  sachalinensis,  200,  202, 
203 

Prunus  Sieboldii,  201,  202 

Prunus  subhirtella,  198 

Prunus  subhirtella,  var.  pendula,  199 

Prunus  tomentosa,  191 

Prunus  triloba,  191 

Prunus  triloba  plena,  191 

Prunus  yedoensis,  200,  203 

Pseudolarix  Kaempferi,  134 

Pseudotsuga  taxifolia,  118 

Pussy  Willows  (Salix),  177 

Pyracantha  angustifolia,  160 

Pyracantha  crenulata,  92,  160 

Pyracantha  coccinea,  92,  160 

Pyracantha  coccinea,  var.  Lalandii,  92,  160 

Quince,  106 

Rambler  Rose,  introduced  into  England  from 
China,  4,  5;  into  France  from  Japan,  9;  wild 
prototype  of,  n 

Raspberries,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83 

Red  fruits,  trees,  and  shrubs  with,  84 

Redwoods  (Sequoia),  113 

Reeves,  John,  sends  Wistaria  sinensis  to  England 
from  Canton,  China,  60 


INDEX 


309 


Remontant  or  Hybrid  Perpetual  Roses,  parentage 

of,  8 

Retinispora  obtusa  nana,  130 
Rhamnus,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83 
Rhamnus  alpinus,  94 
Rhamnus  catharticus,  94 
Rhamnus  davuricus,  94 
Rhamnus  Frangula,  94 
Rheum  Alexandrae,  237 
Rhododendron  Albrechtii,  257 
Rhododendron  Album  elegans,  261 
Rhododendron  Album  grandiflorum,  361 
Rhododendron  altaclarense,  267 
Rhododendron  amoenum,  256 
Rhododendron  arborescens,  252 
Rhododendron  arboreum,  266,  373 
Rhododendron  arbutifolium,  259 
Rhododendron  Atrosanguineum,  261,  373 
Rhododendron  austrinum,  252 
Rhododendron  azaleoides,  266 
Rhododendron  Boule  de  Niege,  266 
Rhododendron  brachycarpum,  269,  270,  371 
Rhododendron  calendulaceum,  251,  254 
Rhododendron  californicum,  269 
Rhododendron  calophytum,  273 
Rhododendron  candidum,  252 
Rhododendron  canescens,  251 
Rhododendron  Caractacus,  261 
Rhododendron  carolinianum,  257 
Rhododendron  catawbiense,  264,  265,  369,  370 
Rhododendron  catawbiense  album,  261 
Rhododendron  caucasicum,  264,  265,  269,  370 
Rhododendron  caucasicum  album,  266 
Rhododendron,  Charles  Dickens,  373 
Rhododendron  chrysanthum,  269,  270 
Rhododendron  ciliatum,  259 
Rhododendron  Coriaceum,  266 
Rhododendron  dahuricum,  194,  259 
Rhododendron  delicatissimum,  261 
Rhododendron  Everestianum,  261 
Rhododendron  Fargesii,  273 
Rhododendron  ferrugineum,  358 
Rhododendron  flammeum,  352,  353 
Rhododendron  flavidum,  260 
Rhododendron  flavum,  253 
Rhododendron  Fortunei,  267 
Rhododendron  Griffithianum,  267 
Rhododendron  H.  W.  Sargent,  261,  373 
Rhododendron  Henrietta  Sargent,  361 
Rhododendron  hirsutum,  358 
Rhododendron  Hybrid  Maximum,  266 
Rhododendron  Hybrids,  260,  266,  371,  373 
Rhododendron  intrioatum,  260 
Rhododendron  japonicum,  250,  353 
Rhododendron  Tacksonii,  266 
Rhododendron  Kaempferi,  255 
Rhododendron  King  of  the  Purples,  361 
Rhododendron  Lady  Armstrong,  261 
Rhododendron  laetevirens,  259  3 
Rhododendron  lapponicum,  257,  358 
Rhododendron  ledifolium,  356 
Rhododendron  luteum,  350,  353,  354 
Rhododendron  Madame  Carvalho,  361 
Rhododendron  maximum,  264,  266,  269,  370 
Rhododendron  Metternichii,  269 
Rhododendron  micranthum,  260 
Rhododendron  minus,  257,  258 
Rhododendron  Mrs.  Charles  Sargent.  361 
Rhododendron  Mrs.  H.  H.  Hunneweil,  361 
Rhododendron  Mont  Blanc,  266 
Rhododendron  mucrpnulatum,  194,  359 
Rhododendron  myrtifolium,  258 
Rhododendron  nudiflorum,  251,  254 
Rhododendron  obtusum,  256 
Rhododendron  occidentale,  250,  353 
Rhododendron  odoratum,  266 
Rhododendron  orbiculare,  273 


Rhododendron  oreodoxa,  375 
Rhoddoendron  ponticum,  246,  364,  265^  369 
Rhododendron  poukhanense.  356 
Rhododendron  praecox,  259 
Rhododendron  punctatum,  258 
Rhododendron  purpureum  elegans,  261 
Rhododendron  purpureum  grandiflorum,  361 
Rhododendron  racemosum,  260 
Rhododendron  rhombicum,  256 
Rhododendron  roseum  elegans,  261 
Rhododendron  Schlippenbachii,  257 
Rhododendron  sinense,  250,  253 
Rhododendron  Smirnowii,  269,  270,  371 
Rhododendron  sonomense,  250 
Rhododendron  strigillosum,  273 
Rhododendron  Ungernii,  269 
Rhododendron  viscosum,  252,  254 
Rhododendron  wellesleyanum,  271 
Rhododendron  Wilsonii,  259 
Rhododendrons,  planting  Lilies  among,  37,  31; 

culture  of,  345;  preparations  for  in  limestone 

areas,    248;    in    England,    264-368;    natural 

habitat,  269 
Rhodora  Azaleas,  349 
Rhodora  canadense,  349 
Rhodora  Vaseyi,  349 
Rhodora  Vaseyi  album,  350 
Rhus,  for  ornamental  fruits,  84 
Rhus  javanica   (R.  Osbeckii  or  R.  semialata) 

for  summer  display,  45 
Ribes,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83 
Rodgersia  aesculifolia,  236 
Rodgersia  pinnata,  var.  alba,  336 
Rodgersia  sambucifolia,  336 
Rosa,  confines  and  classification  of  the  genus,  xo 
Rosa  alba,  13 
Rosa  arvensis,  13 
Rosea  Banksiae,  6 
Rosa  Banksiae,  var.  lutea,  6,  16 
Rosa  Banksiae,  var.  lutescens,  16 
Rosa  bracteata,  6 
Rosa  Brunonii,  155 
Rosa  centifolia,  7,  13,  13 
Rosa  centifolia,  var.  muscosa,  13 
Rosa  chinensis,  4,  5,  7,  8,  13 
Rosa  chinensis,  var.  semperflorens,  4,  5,  7 
Rosa  chinensis,  var.  spontanea,  10 
Rosa  cinnamomea,  13 
Rosa  damascena,  7,  ia,  13 
Rosa  Ecae,  15 
Rosa  filipes,  156 
Rosa  foetida,  15 
Rosa  Fortuneana,  8 
Rosa  gallica,  7,  u,  13 
Rosa  Gentiliana,  156,  157 
Rosa  gigantea,  9 
Rosa  Helenae,  156, 157 
Rosa  hemisphaerica,  13,  15 
Rosa  Hugonis,  15 
Rosa  humilis,  u 
Rosa  laevigata,  4,  6 
Rosa  longicuspis,  156, 157 
RosaLuciae.8 
Rosa  microphylla,  7 
Rosa  moschata,  8,  12 
Rosa  multibracteata,  157 
Rosa  multiflora,  introduced  into  France  from 


Rosa"  multiflora,  var.  carnea,  introduced  into 

England,  5 
Rosa  multiflora,  var.  cathayensis  introduced  into 

England  from  China,  4 
Rosa  multiflora.   var.   platyphylla,   introduced 

into  England  from  China,  5 
Rosa  odorata,  5,  8 
Rosa  odorata,  var.  gigantea,  6, 155 
Rosa  odorata,  var.  pseudoindica,  8 


310 


INDEX 


Rosa  pendulina,  12 

Rosa  persica,  15 

Rosa  provencialis,  ia 

Rosa  Roxburgh!!,  7,  10 

Rosa  Rubus  156,  157 

Rosa  rugosa,  6,  n 

Rosa  setigera,  1 1 

Rosa  spinpsissima,  12,  16 

Rosa  virginiana,  double  flowered  form,  11 

Rosa  Willmpttiae,  157 

Rosa  xanthina,  15 

Rose  American  Beauty,  wild  prototype  of,  n 

Rose  d* Amour,  double  flowered  form  of  Rosa 
virginiana,  n 

Rose  Edward,  7 

Rose,  Moss,  12 

Rose,  Musk,  8,  12,  156 

Rose  of  Sharon,  for  summer  resorts,  39 

Roses,  introduced  into  Europe  from  China,  3,  4; 
parentage  of  modern  varieties,  7;  now  in  cul- 
tivation mostly  made  varieties,  n;  kinds  used 
by  hybridists,  12;  varieties  known  to  ancient 
writers,  12;  old  varieties  displaced,  13;  how 
tagated,  13;  ideals  in  breeding,  14;  new 
sties  desired,  15;  name,  Rose  common  to 
all  peoples,  17;  its  place  in  the  history  of  the 
world,  17;  societies,  devoted  to  encouraging  its 
advancement,  17;  new  introductions,  156 

Roses,  climbing  organs  of,  57 

Roses,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83 

Roses,  Wild,  Lilies  planted  among,  31 

Rouen  Botanic  Garden,  origination  of  Syringa 
chinensis  (or  Syringa  rothomagensis)  at,  228 

Rowan,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83,  87 

Royal  Gardens,  Kew,  receives  first  plants  from 
China,  4;  Sophora  jappnica  thriving  at,  43 

Rubus,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83 

Rubus,  bambusarum,  168 

Rubus  chroosepalus,  168 

Rubus  flagelliflorus,  168 

Rubus  Henryi,  168 

Rubus  ichangensis,  169 

Rubus  Swinhoei,  169 

St.  John's  Wort  (Hypericum  patulum,  var. 
Henryi),  50 

Salix  Bockii,  170 

Salix  magnifica,  170 

Salvia  Przewalskii,  238 

Sarcococca  humile,  166 

Sarcococca  ruscifolia,  166 

Sargent,  Prof.  C.  S.,  flowers  for  first  time  Mag- 
nolia kobus,  var.  borealis,  185;  introduces 
Malus  Sargentii,  an;  introduces,  Rhododen- 
dron Kaempferi,  255;  met  in  Boston  by  Mr. 
Wilson  en  route  to  China  in  search  of  Davidia, 
276 

Sargent,  Mrs.  Charles  S.,  Lily  named  in  honor  of, 
29 

Sassafras,  84,  102,  107 

Sambucus,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83 

Sambucus  callicarpa,  91 

Sambucus  canadensis,  94 

Sambucus  canadensis,  var.  maxima,  95 

Sambucus  pubens,  95 

Sambucus  pubens,  var.  leucocarpa,  95 

Sambucus  racemosa,  91 

Scale  insects,  to  control,  203,  212 

Schizophragma  hydrangeoides,  68 

Sciadopitys  verticillata,  126 

Sea  Buckthorn  (Hippophae  rhamnoides),  88 

Senecio  clivorum,  233 

Senecio  tanguticus,  234 

Senecio  Veitchianus,  233 

Senecio  Wilsonianus,  233,  234 

"Seven  Sisters"  Rose  (Rosa  multiflora,  var. 
platyphylla),  5,  9 


Shadbush,  107 

Sheep  Laurel,  142 

Shepherdia  canadensis,  88 

Shisandra  chinensis,  64 

Siberian  Moonseed  (Menispermumdauriciun),  75 

Silky  Cornel  (Cornus  Amonum),  98 

Silver  Maple,  106 

Sinomenium  acutum,  75 

Slater,  Gilbert,  obtains  first  Crimson  China 
Monthly  Rose  in  England,  5 

Smilax,  climbing  organs  of,  56 

Smilax  hispida,  75 

Smilax  rotundifplia,  75 

Smilax  Sieboldii,  75 

Smith,  Prof.  R.  sends  from  Japan  to  England 
"the  Engineer"  Rose,  8 

Smoketree  (Cotinus),  107 

Snowberry,  Creeping,  150 

Snowberry  Bush  (symphoricarpps),  99 

Snowberries,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83 

Snowy  Mespilus,  107 

Sophora  japonica,  for  summer  display.  41 ;  intro- 
duced into  France  from  China  by  Father 
d'lncarville,  42 

Sorbaria  Aitchisonii,  48 

Sorbaria  arborea,  48 

Sorbaria  assurgens,  48 

Sorbaria  Lindleyana,  49 

Sorbaria  sorbifplia,  48 

Sorbaria  stellipili,  48 

Sorbarias  for  summer  display,  47 

Sorbus,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83 

Sorbus  americana,  87 

Sorbus  Aucuparia,  87 

Sorbus  decora,  87 

Sourwood  or  Sorrel  Tree,  40,  106 

SpicebushfXBenzoin  aestivale),  84,  no,  180 

Spindle-tree,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83 

Spondias  axillaris,  173 

Spraying  solutions  for  scale  insects,  203,  aia 

Spruce,  Canadian,  or  White,  121 

Spruce,  Colorado  Blue  (Picea  pungens),  119 

Spruce,  Engelmann's,  121 

Spruce,  Norway,  120 

Spruce,  Oriental,  122 

Spruce,  Serbian,  121 

Stachyuras  chinensis,  170 

Staphylea  holocarpa,  171 

Staphylea  holocarpa,  var.  rosea,  i?a 

Stewartia  pentagyna,  summer  flowering  native, 

Stewartia  pseudocamellia,  for  summer  display,  44 
Stranvaesia  Davidiana,  161 
Stranvaesia  Davidiana,  var.  undulata,  161 
Sumach,  84,  106,  107,  no 
Summer  Lilac,  52 

Summer  gardens,  shrubs  suitable  for,  39 
Summer  Grape  (Vitis  aestivalis),  72,  73 
Supple-jack  (Berchemia  scandens),  65 
Sweet,  introducer  of  Fairy  Rose,  7 
Sweet  Bay  (Magnolia  glauca)  for  summer  dis- 
play, 40 

Sycopsis  sinensis,  167 
Symplocos  crataegoides,  97 
Symplocps  paniculata,  84, 98 
Symphoricarpos,  for  ornamental  fruits,  83 
Symphoricarpos  mollis,  99 
Symphoricarpos  orbiculatus,  99 
Symphoricarpos  racemosus,  99 
Symphoricarpos  racemosus,  var.  laevigatus,  99 
Syringa  affinis,  215,  219 
Syringa  affinis,  var.,  Giraldii,  219 
Syringa  alborosea,  223 
Syringa  amurensis,  226 
Syringa  chinensis,  228 
Syringa  chinensis  alba,  229 
Syringa  emodi,  215,  225 


INDEX 


311 


Syringa  Henryj,  228 
Syringa  Henryi  Lutece,  228 
Syringa  hyacinthiflora,  22g 
Syringa  japonica,  215,  227 
Syringa  Josikaea,  214,  224,  228 
Syringa  Julianae,  222 
Syringa  oblata,  215,  21  g,  220,  229 
Syringa  pekinensis,  226 
Syringa  persica,  221,  228 
Syringa  persica,  var.  alba,  221 
Syringa  persica,  var.  laciniata,  321 
Syringa  pinnatifolia,  221 
Syringa  pubescens,  220 
Syringa  reflexa,  221 
Syringa  Rehderiana,  223 
Syringa  rothomagensis,  228 
Syringa  Sweginzowii,  225 
Seringa  tomentella,  223 
Syringa  villosaf  223,  228 
Syringa  vulgaris,  213,  214,  228,  229 
Syringa  Wilsonii,  223 
Syringa  Wolfii,  224 

Tamarack  or  Hackmatack,  134 

Taxodium,  113 

Taxus  baccata.  136 

Taxus  canadensis,  136 

Taxus  cuspidata,  136 

Taxus  cuspidata,  var.  nana,  137 

Tecoma  radicans.  67 

Tecoma  radicans.  var.  praecox,  67 

Thalictrum  dipterocarpum,  238 

Thayer,  Mrs.  Bayard,  Lily  named  in  honor  of,  29 

Thea  cuspidata,  164 

Thuja  gigantea,  127 

Thuja  occidentalis,  128 

Thuja  occidentalis  Little  Gem,  133 

Thuja  occidentalis,  var.  lutea,  129 

Thuja  occidentalis,  var.  pendula,  129 

Thuja  occidentalis,  var.  plicata,  127,  129 

Thuja  occidentalis,  var.  plicata   argenteo-varie- 

Thuja  occidentalis  recurya  nana,  133 

Thuja  occidentalis  Reedii,  133 

Thuja  occidentalis  Tom  Thumb,  133 

Thuja  occidentalis  umbraculifera,  133 

Thuja  occidentalis,  var.  Vervaeneana,  128 

Thuja  occidentalis,  var.  Wareana,  129 

Thuja  occidentalis,  var.  Wareana  aurea,  129 

Thuja  occidentalis  Woodwardii,  133 

Thuja  orientalis,  129 

Tiger  Lily  (Lilium  tigrinum),  20,  25 

Tokyo,  Plum  Gardens  of,  187 

Trailing  Arbutus.  148 

Tree  of  Heaven  (Ailanthus),  172 

Trellises  for  climbing  plants,  58 

Tripterygium  Regelii,  64 

Trumpet-flower  (Campsis  radicans,  or  Tecoma 
radicans),  67 

Trumpet-flower,  climbing  organs  of,  57 

Tsuga  canadensis,  114,  122 

Tsuga  canadensis,  var.  compacta,  122 

Tsuga  canadensis,  var.  microphylla,  123 

Tsuga  canadensis,  var.  pendula,  123 

Tsuga  canadensis,  var.  Sargen liana,  122 

Tsutsutsi  Azaleas,  240 

Tulip-tree,  102,  106.  107 

Tupelo  (Nyssa  sylvatica),  84.  106,  108 

Turner,  Messrs.  Chas.,  purchase  stock  of  "The 
Engineer"  Rose  and  change  name  to  "Crim- 
son Rambler,"  9 

Ulmus  americana,  176 
Umbellate  Lily,  type  of  the  group,  25 
Ume  (Japanese  Apricot),  187 
Under-tree  plantingt  shrubs  for,  166 


Vaccinium,  for  ornamental  fruits,  84 
Vaccinium  Vitis-idaea,  148 
VaccirJums,  planting  Lilies  among,  31 
Van  Houtte,  first  to  produce  double  Rhododen- 
dron luteum,  254 
Varnish  Tree     (Koelreuteria     paniculata),     for 

summer  display,  41 
Veitch,  John  Gould,  first  to  send  Lilium  auratum 

to  England,  21 
Veitch.  Messrs.,  first  in  England  to  flower  Lilium 

auratum,    21;    receive    first    seeds   of    Giant 

Arborvitae  (Thuja  plicata),  in  England,  127; 

send  E.  W.  Wilson  in  search  of  the  Davidia, 

275 

Veronica  angustifolia,  53 
Veronicas,  planting  Lilies  among,  31 
Viburnum,  106,  no 
Viburnum  acerifolium,  95 
Viburnum  alnifolium,  95 
Viburnum  americanum,  91 
Viburnum  buddleifolium,  163 
Viburnum  Canbyi,  97 
Viburnum  cassinoides,  97 
Viburnum  coriaceum,  i6a 
Viburnum  Davidii,  161 
Viburnum  dentatum,  97 
Viburnum  dilitatum,  91 
Viburnum  furcatum,  95 
Viburnum  Harryanum,  i6a 
Viburnum  Henryi,  161 
Viburnum  Lantana,  95 
Viburnum  lantanoicles,  95 
Viburnum  lentago,  97 
Viburnum  Opulus,  91 
Viburnum  Opulus,  var.  xanthocarpum.'ga 
Viburnum  plicatum,  95 
Viburnum  propinquum,  162 
Viburnum  prunifolium,  97 
Viburnum  pubescens,  95 
Viburnum  rhytidophyllum,  95,  i6a 
Viburnum  rufidulum,  97 
Viburnum  Sargen  tii,  91 
Viburnum  Sieboldiugs 
Viburnum  tomentosum,  95 
Viburnum  utile,  162 
Viburnum  Veitchii,  95 
Viburnum  Wrightii,  91 
Viburnums,  for  fruits  and  flowers,  79,  83 
Vilmorin,  Maurice  de,  raises  first  tree  of  Davidia 

involucrata  in  Europe,  294 
Vinca  minor,  147 
Virginia  Creeper,  106,  107,  no 
Vitis  aestivalis,  72 
Vitis  amurensis,  71 
Vitis  armata,  71 
Vitis  betulifolia,  72 
Vitis  bicolor, -72 
Vitis  cinerea,  72 
Vitis  Coignetiae,  70 
Vitis  cordifolia,  73 
Vitis  Davidii,  71 

Vitis  Davidii,  var.  cyanocarpa,  71 
Vitis  Doaniana,  72 
Vitis  flexuosa,  var.  parvifolia,  72 
Vitis  flexuosa,  var.  Wilsonii,  72 
Vitis  labrusca.  73 
Vitis  Piasezkii,  72 
Vitis  pentagona,  72 
Vitis  reticulata,  72 
Vitis  Romanetii,  72 
Vitis  rupestris,  73 
Vitis,  climbing  organs  of,  56 
Von  Siebold,  Philip  Franz,  introduces  Prunus 

subhirtella,  var.  pendula,  into  Holland,  199; 
introduces  Malus  floribunda  into  Holland,  207; 

introduces  Malus  Sieboldii,   208;  distributes 
Malusringo,2io 


312 


INDEX 


Walnut,  106 

Washington,   George,    plants    Lilac  at   Mount 

Vernon,  214 

Washington  Thorn,  for  ornamental  fruits,  85 
Waterer,  hybridizer  of  Rhododendrons,  268 
Wayfaring  Tree  (Viburnum  Lantana),  95 
Waxwork  (Celastrus  scandens),  65,  83 
Weld,  Gen.  Stephen  M.,  Primula  pulverulenta 

in  garden  of,  240 
Wichuraiana   Rose   (Rosa   Luciae),   introduced 

into  Belgium  from  Japan,  8;  wild  prototype 

of,  ii 
Wild  Roses,  extolled  in  poetry  and  prose  for 

centuries,  16;  Lilies  planted  among,  31;  for 

fruits  and  flowers,  79;  in  autumn  colors,  106 
Williams,  S.  T.,  introduces  Syringa  affinis  into 

Arnold  Arboretum  from  Japan,  219 
Willock,  Sir  Henry,  introduces  Yellow  Persian 

Rose,  15 
Willow,  105 

Willows,  new  introductions,  170 
Wintergreen,  or  Checkerberry,  149 
Wistar,  Dr.  Caspar,  Wistaria  named  in  honor 

of.byNuttall.oo 
Wistaria,  §6 
Wistaria,  how  named,  60 


Wistaria,  Chinese,  60 

Wistaria,  Japanese,  remarkable  for  long  racemes 

of  flowers,  61;  when  and  by  whom  introduced 

to  Europe  and  America,  62;  bow  propagated, 

63 

Wistaria  Soribunda,  var.  macrobotrys,  61 
Wistaria  frutescens,  60 
Wistaria  multijuga,  61 
Wistaria  sinensis,  introduced  into  England  from 

China,  60 

Witch  Hazels  (Hamamelis).  177 
Woodbines  (Lonicera  PericlymeiHun),  66 

Xylosma  racemosum,  173 

Xylosma  racemosum,  var.  pubescens,  173 

Yellow  flowered  shrubs,  49 

Yellow  and  orange  fruited  shrubs,  g» 

Yew,  136 

Yew,  English,  136 

Yew,  Japanese,  136 

Yoshino-sakura,  Japanese  Flowering  Cherry,  200 

Yucca  filamentosa,  49,  147 

Yucca  flaccida,  49,  147 

Yucca  glauca,  49,  147 

Yulan  (Magnolia  conspicua),  i8a 


PRINTED   AT   THB   COUNTRY   LIFE   PRESS*  GARDEN   CtTY,  N.  Y. 


'•"•"' """*- 


S2Cm~  "•"'»'»"£ 

======T=====:===^-_ 


>YC!08I77 


S89605 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


